Fakoyejo Olalekan
The Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said he will remove subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol if elected in 2023 election.
Tinubu said he’s going to make the bold decision that President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration and previous administrations have failed to take.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelFuel subsidy has been a controversial decision, and President Buhari’s government had attempted to remove it this year, however, he postponed the removal to the second quarter of 2023.
This postponement leaves the decision to remove the subsidy in the hands of either Tinubu, Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, as the three are vying for the presidential seat.
At a business luncheon with business owners in Lagos. on Thursday, the former Lagos State governor said Nigeria can’t be subsidising petrol consumed by other African countries; Cameroon, Niger, and Benin Republic.
Attempts to remove fuel subsidy have always been met with protest by the Labour Union, but Tinubu said regardless of how long the protest takes, it will not stop him from removing it.
“The era when petrol subsidy was fashionable is gone. If I am elected President, I will remove fuel subsidy no matter how much Nigerians protest against it.
“The Petroleum Act is there for us to take a second look at to meet our obligations and no matter how much or long the protest, we will remove petrol subsidy.
“We will take tough decisions, but it will be done, and that is the truth. It must be removed. We can invest the money wisely, for instance in health, as some of you have said.
“No matter how long you protest, we will remove subsidy. We can do it. We are educated enough. How can we subsidise fuel consumption of Cameroon, Niger, Benin Republic and some others?” He said.
