Buhari Did Not Order The Removal Of Petrol Subsidies, According To Ahmed Lawan

Buhari Did Not Order The Removal Of Petrol Subsidies, According To Ahmed Lawan

Buhari Did Not Order The Removal Of Petrol Subsidies, According To Ahmed Lawan

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NewsReport gathered that according to Senate President Ahmad Lawan, President Muhammadu Buhari did not order the elimination of the petrol subsidy.

Lawan told reporters during a meeting with Buhari at the Aso Rock palace on Tuesday that many citizens are concerned about the federal government’s proposal to eliminate subsidies.

“Well, Nigerians will be interested to hear what I’ve come to discuss with Mr. President, among other things,” the senate president remarked.

“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.

“We have just finished our recess, we have gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts. And we felt the pulse of our people.

“I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as 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.”

The senate president said the position of Buhari is different from the position of Zainab Ahmed, minister of finance, budget, and national planning.

In October, the finance minister said the federal government would only cater for subsidies on petrol in the first six months of 2022.

“In our 2022 budget, we only factored in subsidies 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,” Ahmed had said.

She had said the federal government would provide an N5,000 transportation grant to poor Nigerians to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.