Abstract: This study has
examined the rethinking implications of fuel subsidy removal with specific
reference to women entrepreneur experiences in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State,
Nigeria. With the assumption of democratic power and leadership of Nigeria in
2023, the fundamental assignment of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu debut
speech was the declaration on fuel subsidy removal, premised on regularization
of Nigeria’s economy. It also essentially claimed at mitigating the
sophisticated corruption especially with its debilitating effects in the formal
sector of oil marketing, and to some extent to get rid of poverty ridden in all
sectors of the Nigeria economy. Illustratively, the removal of fuel subsidy in
2023 has lethal implications on the socio-economic and political life of women
entrepreneurs in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, it results into the hike in prices of
agricultural products for consumers. This is because large proportion of women
entrepreneurs in Abakaliki performs dual responsibilities as farmers and
marketers. Other included implication of goods and services that has direct
links with agricultural production and selling of goods by women entrepreneurs
in the study area. However, the devastating implications are equally evident,
and most obvious in the short supplies of goods and services to meet increasing
population needs in the study area. This dire action and consequences
ultimately were the culmination of the hikes of agricultural produces that resulted
to paradigm shifts in market supply and demand. However, the study recommends
an outright reverse in fuel price to enable the average Nigeria population to
procure it; empowerment of women through small scale long term-loan; removal
excruciating tax; and improving on government policies towards regulation of
fuel price through efficient control. Methodologically, the study employed
survey examination, and adoption of secondary sources by using synthesized
pattern of qualitative data interpretation.
Keywords: Implications, Fuel Subsidy, Women, Entrepreneur, Abakaliki
DOI: 10.36349/zamijoh.2026.v04i02.003
author/Kindness Nkasiobi Ezeola, Ph.D
journal/Zamfara IJOH Vol. 4, Issue 2
