The Nigerian Government has declared that fuel subsidy has been abolished.
The Federal Government has disputed the claims of the former Kaduna State governor, Nasir El-Rufai, and the Independent Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria who argue that the subsidy still exists.
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The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, made this known in a recent interview that was shared by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor.
The minister challenged those who allege that the Government is still providing subsidies for fuel to provide evidence and facts to back up their claims.
He emphasized that the position of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Government on fuel subsidy has not changed.
However, he stated that every Government has a responsibility to mitigate the impact of economic hardship on Nigerians in all sectors, not just in the Petroleum industry.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, acknowledged that fuel subsidy is a delicate issue but reiterated that the Government has made its stance clear.
“I don’t want to delve into that issue. It is a very sensitive issue. We should get all the facts.
“As far as I’m concerned, the President removed the subsidy, and it remains removed till today.
“Anybody saying that subsidy is being paid, it is left for the person to bring the facts, and then we will talk about them.
“It may not be determined by market forces, but let us deal with the price as it is today.
“Every government has a duty to do certain things, not only in the petroleum sector but in several other sectors, to cushion the effect and burden on Nigerians,” he said.
El-Rufai previously claimed that Tinubu’s administration is paying more fuel subsidies than ever before.
In response to this, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria supported the former governor.
The Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, stated that the cost of fuel without a subsidy should be approximately N900 per litre.
“I have said before that the PMS subsidy has been returned, and the government said it was a lie,” he stated.
President Tinubu announced the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria in May last year, which led to an increase in fuel pump price from N200 to over N600 per litre.
