President Bola Ahmed Tinubu empathized with the hardships
caused by the removal of fuel subsidy,
assuring the nation that this decision
was made in the best interest of the country’s future prosperity.
During a meeting with the Class of 1999 governors at the
Presidential Villa, Tinubu urged Nigerians to remain patient while the
government worked on a comprehensive framework for palliatives to mitigate the
impact of the fuel subsidy removal.
Tinubu acknowledged the suffering of the people and compared
it to the pain of childbirth, emphasizing that the relief and joy that would
follow would be worth it. He stated that the removal of the fuel subsidy marked
a rebirth of Nigeria, benefiting the majority of the population rather than a
few smugglers. He appealed to the people to exercise patience during this
transition.
“I understand the difficulties we are facing, but we
must remember that no childbirth is without pain. The true joy lies in the
relief that follows the pain. Nigeria is already experiencing a rebirth through
the removal of fuel subsidy, and it will bring prosperity to the nation. Please
ask the people to be patient,” Tinubu expressed to the governors, who were
led by former Governor Lucky Igbinedion of Edo State.
Tinubu also wrote a letter to the House of Representatives,
requesting an amendment to the 2023 supplementary appropriation act to allocate
N500 billion for the provision of palliatives to Nigerians. He emphasized the
importance of preventing the misappropriation of funds and ensuring that the
cash transfers reached those in genuine need.
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas,
read Tinubu’s letter during the plenary session, highlighting the necessity of
the request to alleviate the effects of fuel subsidy removal on the Nigerian
population.
