But how does one genuinely explain to a foreigner that Buhari left fuel at ₦195 per litre in 2023, and today, we are rushing to buy fuel at ₦1,440 per litre, yet we are still celebrating that President Tinubu reduced queues at filling stations? How do I explain that even though Buhari paid subsidy, he still left our total debt at ₦87.38 trillion, compared to the ₦159.28 trillion we have today, even without the payment of subsidy? How do I explain that, despite all of this, Buhari still completed the Second Niger Bridge and delivered some pockets of gigantic projects across the country? How do I explain that under Buhari, the highest defence allocation passed was ₦2.98 trillion in 2023, compared to the ₦5.41 trillion passed in 2026, yet insecurity appears to have worsened? How do I explain that we have now reached a point where some Nigerians are genuinely beginning to miss Buhari, the very man we once thought would be unmatched in terms of incompetence? Chai. President Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa Yar'Adua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, in all their years in office put together, appropriated about ₦135 trillion in federal budgets over roughly 24 years. NB: Fuel never got to over ₦300 per litre during their administrations and a bag of rice never crossed ₦30,000. Then came Tinubu. In just three budgets (2024, 2025 and 2026), his administration has spent about ₦153.2 trillion. And instead of making life easier, we now buy fuel for over ₦1,200 per litre and a bag of rice is now ₦60,000^. ANYBODY STILL SUPPORTING TINUBU SHOULD TELL US WHAT THEY ARE SEEING THAT THE REST OF NIGERIANS ARE NOT SEEING. Copied.

It's understandable to feel frustrated by these significant changes. Here's how you can explain these points to a foreigner, focusing on the economic and policy shifts:

• Fuel Prices and Queues: Explain that the previous administration maintained a fuel subsidy, which kept prices artificially low (e.g., ₦195 per litre). However, this subsidy was a massive financial burden on the government. The current administration removed the fuel subsidy to free up government funds. This led to a sharp increase in fuel prices (e.g., ₦1,440 per litre) because prices are now determined by market forces. The queues disappeared because marketers found it profitable to import and sell fuel, ensuring availability, even at the higher price.

• National Debt: The increase in national debt from ₦87.38 trillion to ₦159.28 trillion reflects continued government borrowing. While the subsidy removal was meant to reduce spending, other factors like exchange rate depreciation (making foreign debt more expensive in Naira terms) and ongoing infrastructure or recurrent expenditures can still drive up the total debt. Both administrations have faced the challenge of funding government operations and development.

• Infrastructure Projects: Acknowledge that the previous administration did complete significant infrastructure projects like the Second Niger Bridge. This shows that despite economic challenges, there were tangible developments during that period.

• Defense Allocation and Insecurity: Explain that while defense allocations have increased significantly (from ₦2.98 trillion to ₦5.41 trillion), improved security is not solely dependent on budget size. Factors such as corruption, inefficiency in resource utilization, and the evolving nature of security threats can mean that higher spending doesn't always translate to a proportional reduction in insecurity.

• Missing Buhari and Cost of Living: The sentiment of "missing Buhari" stems from the current severe cost of living crisis. While the previous era had its own challenges, the rapid increase in prices for essential goods like fuel and rice (from ₦30,000 to ₦60,000 per bag) under the current administration has made daily life significantly harder for many Nigerians. This economic hardship leads some to view the past as relatively more stable in terms of affordability.

• Budget Comparison: The comparison of federal budgets (₦135 trillion over 24 years vs. ₦153.2 trillion over 3 years) highlights the impact of inflation and currency depreciation. While nominal budget figures increase over time, the real value or purchasing power of those budgets, and more importantly, the purchasing power of citizens, has been severely eroded. The rapid increase in budget size under Tinubu, coupled with high inflation, means that despite larger nominal spending, the economic situation for the average Nigerian has worsened.