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The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said the criticism from opposition political parties was unnecessary since all major presidential candidates promised they would remove fuel subsidy.
Mohammed Idris said there was no reason for criticizing President Bola Tinubu because he removed fuel subsidy which other presidential candidates promised to remove.
The Minister of Information admitted that Nigeria is facing a challenging time because of the two policies of removing fuel subsidy and unifying exchange rate.
He, however, said the President took the decision as a man of courage because it has benefit for the country in the short and long term
Mohammed Idris stated this on Thursday while he paid a courtesy visit to the Management and Staff of Arise TV.
He explained that Tinubu did not meet any provision in 2023 budget for fuel subsidy when he took office; that made the President not continue with it.
Idris disclosed that by the time Tinubu took over administration of Nigeria, the country was importing 2 billion liters of fuel every month for domestic consumption; but when the subsidy was removed, consumption reduced by 50 percent because petrol imported where going to places other than Nigeria.
He said, “Nigeria is facing a very challenging time. President Tinubu took office approximately 14 months ago. It has been a very eventful 14 months. Because of the kind of person he is, the courage, he does things that people shy away from.
“Two major policies, one, the removal of fuel subsidy, from the first day of this administration. Then a few months after, the unification of our foreign exchange. We know that all the major contenders to the office of the president before May 29 of 2023 had told Nigerians they were going to remove fuel subsidy; all parties.
“So when I hear criticism about why the President had to remove it, my question is were they not sincere in the promise, what has changed? Or would they have taken office and not fulfill the promise they made to Nigerians?
“The removal of fuel subsidy is really a big one and the President knew that it was going to be something that will be beneficial to this country in the short and long term, By May 29 of 2023, when he took office, there was no provision for fuel subsidy in the budget, no provision at all.
“At that time, before he removed it, Nigeria was importing for domestic consumption about 2 billion liters, by the time he removed it, our domestic consumption came down by about 50 percent. That immediately was a pointer to something. Study showed the import was going somewhere.“
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