The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, has expressed his opinion on the former fuel subsidy, describing it as a monster that had deprived Nigerians of several social amenities. He made these statements on Saturday during a reception held in his honour by the Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Idris commended President Bola Tinubu, who took over the leadership of the country less than a year ago, for his remarkable achievements in office. He praised the removal of the fuel subsidy, stating that it had consumed virtually everything that Nigerians were supposed to have had. The fuel subsidy had taken away resources that could have been used to build better roads and hospitals and lay a solid foundation for the educational advancement of Nigerians.
The Minister explained that with the removal of the fuel subsidy, a lot of resources were freed up and redirected back into the system. Consequently, the Federal Government and its sub-nationals now have more money available to cater to the needs and betterment of Nigerians.
Idris revealed that the consumption of premium motor spirit (PMS) had reduced by 50% following the removal of the fuel subsidy. This was a significant reduction from the nearly two billion litres of PMS consumed before the removal. He questioned the rationale for opposing the fuel subsidy removal, as over a billion litres of fuel consumption had been cut down, and it was necessary to free up resources for more productive ventures.
The Minister acknowledged that the shocks resulting from the fuel subsidy removal were inevitable, but the action was not intended to suffer Nigerians but for their long-term benefits. He also confirmed that every successive government in Nigeria had hoped to remove fuel subsidies but lacked the courage to do so until President Tinubu’s administration.
Idris added that the shocks resulting from the removal of the fuel subsidy were cushioned by the implementation of wage awards and the provision of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses for subsidized transportation. He stated that the Federal Government had set aside over N100 billion for the availability of CNG buses across Nigeria.
The Minister assured Nigerians of the Federal Government’s commitment to implement the outcome of the decision that would be brought out by the committee that inaugurated a new wage regime in the country.
During the reception, the Managing Director of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Malam Ali Muhammad Ali, described the Information Minister as a peacemaker and a gentleman. The Director-General of NTA, Alhaji Abdulhamid Dembos, and his VON counterpart, Alhaji Jibrin Ndace, all described Idris as an easy-going, humble, and generous personality.
Dr Ike Neliaku, the President of NIPR, thanked the Kaduna chapter for organising the reception and its contribution to the growth of the Institute. He described the Information Minister as a gentleman and a solution provider who had changed the narrative of public relations by the core application of its principles.
