President Muhammadu Buhari did not order anyone in his administration to remove the fuel subsidy, according to Senate President Ahmed Lawan.
Last October, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, revealed that the federal government had made provision for a petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022, as the government worked toward complete deregulation of the sector.
She had said: “In our 2022 budget, we only factored in subsidy for the first half of the year; the second half of the year, we are looking at complete deregulation of the sector, saving foreign exchange and potentially earning more from the oil and gas industry”.
Lawan, however, told reporters after meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday that he informed the president about the views and worries of his people on crucial topics such as the proposed subsidy elimination.
The Senate President stated that he raised the issue with the president because senators were concerned about the riots and protests that have erupted across the country as a result of the decision to end the fuel subsidy.
He expressed his delight at being able to notify Nigerians that Buhari had not ordered the removal of petroleum subsidies.
He said: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I’ve come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things.
“Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.
“And we’ve just finished our recess, we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts. And will felt the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as the the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.”
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator and a recipient of the D9112 Superstar Icon Award, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
