- Reps support removal, Kwara Governor warns marketers
BY FESTUS OKOROMADU, ABUJA
President Bola Tinubu, on Tuesday, gave further clarification on his administration’s stand on petrol subsidy removal.
The President, in a statement, said the Federal Government remained committed to sustaining the subsidy payment era till the end of June as contained in the 2023 budget.
Responding to reactions trailing the earlier declaration through his Twitter handle, the President assured the public of re-channeling of funds previously devoted to subsidy payment into other investments.
The statement reads in part, “The public is advised to note that President Bola Tinubu’s declaration that ‘subsidy is gone’ is neither a new development nor an action of his new administration. He was merely communicating the status quo, considering that the previous administration’s budget for fuel subsidy was planned and approved to last for only the first half of the year.
“Effectively, this means that by the end of June, the Federal Government will be without funds to continue the subsidy regime, translating to its termination. The panic-buying that has ensued as a result of the communication is needless; it will not take immediate effect.
“Furthermore, President Tinubu was clear about his plans to re-channel the funds previously devoted to the payment of subsidies into better investments that will cushion the effects of the removal on the general public, especially the poor of the poor. This includes but is not limited to investments in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions of Nigerians and increase their earning potential.”
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has commended the President’s action while appealing to Nigerians to be patient with the new administration.
Addressing the House on Tuesday under a motion of urgent public importance, a member, Jimoh Olajide, said the decision was timely.
He therefore, charged Nigerians to prayerfully allow the President to deliver on his promises.
The House further appealed to Nigerians to be patient and prayerful to allow the President deliver on his promises.
Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has since backed Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidy.
Speaking on the development, the group Chief Executive Officer NNPCL, Mele Kyari, said the company welcomes the decision to remove fuel subsidy.
“The removal of the subsidy which has been a burden on NNPC’s cash flow will free up funds to enable optimal operations in the company,” Kyari said while addressing journalists in Abuja.
Reacting to queues at the filling station and scarcity already being experienced, he assured Nigerians of sufficient supply of the product.
He added that the NNPC was also monitoring all its distribution networks to ensure compliance
However, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria has said that the President cannot unilaterally take a decision on subsidy removal, saying that there was a reason the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari pushed the “sensitive issue” to the new government.
Fuel queues have since resurfaced across the country since the presidential pronouncement as Nigerians demanded for the premium product.
On his part, the Kwara State Governor, Abdul Rahman AbdulRazaq, on Tuesday warned oil marketers in the state to avoid imposing needless hardship on the citizens through the creation of artificial fuel scarcity and beyond.
AbdulRazaq, also the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, issued the warning in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye.
He said the present situation of not selling fuel to motorists without the government increasing the price was totally uncalled for, asking fuel marketers to immediately discharge fuel to the public under the normal pricing system since they had bought what they currently had at subsidised rates
“Creating artificial scarcity amounts to an intentional misrepresentation of the statement of President Bola Tinubu on the question of fuel subsidy. The people should not be made to undergo any hardship.
“The Governor urges the marketers to desist from anything that qualifies as economic sabotage of the people. Hoarding fuel bought at subsidised prices and creating panic in the state is opportunistic and will not be condoned.
“His Excellency, the Deputy Governor, Mr. Kayode Alabi, will be leading a task force to ensure that no fuel marketer causes undue hardship to the citizens in Kwara State.
“Fuel stations are to note that the task force will dip into their pits. Any filling stations found to be hoarding fuel will have their Certificate of Occupancy revoked, among other penalties,” he warned.
