Nollywood actor Kunle Remi has broken his usual silence on political matters, taking to social media on Tuesday to express frustration over Nigeria’s worsening fuel prices, erratic power supply, and what he described as a lack of accountability in government.
The actor, known for roles in several popular Nigerian productions, said the current economic reality had become impossible to ignore or stay quiet about.
“Sitting on the fence is stupid”
In a video shared on his Instagram page, Remi said he has always avoided discussing politics publicly but now considers that position untenable. “That’s the most stupid statement of anybody in Nigeria right now. We should be discussing, trying to fix things, and inquiring about what is happening in the nation. There’s nothing like sitting on the fence,” he said.
The fuel and power crisis
Remi said petrol now sells for ₦1,300 per litre on Lagos Island, where he lives, and that residents have been running generators continuously due to a lack of stable electricity supply. He noted the financial and psychological toll this has taken, including on his own staff, who struggle to afford the higher transport costs just to get to work.
“All the things I’m working for… for what? It’s messing with my brain, and my spirit is very angry,” he said.
He also pointed to the country’s dependence on a single functioning refinery — the Dangote refinery — while other refineries across the country remain non-operational, describing government support in the sector as inadequate.
Challenge to colleagues
Remi directly challenged fellow entertainers who he said are part of a group promoting the message that Nigerians should “relax” because President Tinubu is fixing the country, questioning whether they are truly standing for the right reasons.
He did not name any individual colleagues in the video.
Nigeria has seen significant increases in fuel prices since the removal of the fuel subsidy in May 2023, shortly after President Bola Tinubu took office. Petrol prices have risen from under ₦200 per litre at the time of the removal to well above ₦1,000 in several parts of the country by early 2026. The Dangote refinery began local fuel sales in late 2024, but prices have remained high, with the naira’s continued weakness against the dollar cited as a key factor.
Remi’s video had generated significant engagement on social media by Tuesday evening. RNN.NG will follow any responses from the colleagues he referenced. Nigerians can watch the full video on his official Instagram page, @kunleremiofficial.