I’ll Remove Petrol Subsidy – Tinubu

Presidential Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has said there was no going back on fuel subsidy removal if elected president in 2023.

Tinubu, who stated this while speaking at the business luncheon with business owners titled: “Business Forward” on Thursday in Lagos, hinted that, no matter how long people protest, it would not stop him from removing fuel subsidy.

Tinubu in a statement by his Media Office, signed by Tunde Rahman, insisted that Nigeria would not continue to subsidise fuel consumption in neighbouring countries.

“How can we be subsidising fuel consumption of Cameroon, of Niger, of Benin Republic. No matter how long you protest, we are going to remove subsidy”, he said.

The APC presidential candidate said his government would give room to allow the private sector to thrive by not interfering, while opening rooms for collaborations.

He noted: “Thus, where the private sector is doing well, my government will not interfere. Our guiding principle regarding economic policy shall be to provide the right policy framework so that business can flourish.

“But I want to do more than help existing businesses to exist. We must create the space, where new sectors and lines of business can open. We must grow this economy so that it can accommodate over 200 million people with a decent standard of living.

“My government will collaborate with the private sector to bring about massive infrastructure renewal that enhances economic opportunities, lower business costs and overheads while producing jobs that spur further growth and development through increased consumer demand. This is the virtuous economic cycle we seek to create.”

He also promised to work towards creating a better security in the country to allow them an enabling environment to do their businesses, adding that, business and insecurity cannot thrive side by side.

On Security, he said, “I am committed to securing Nigerians from violence and the fear of such violence. Terror, kidnapping and banditry have no place in the society I envision. Upon entering office, we will move to implement several measures:”

The measures, Tinubu said, included increasing the numbers of military and non-military security forces, as well as anti-terrorist battalions with integrated special forces units would also be established.

“We did it in Lagos with the RRS Scheme. We can do it again for Nigeria. As we fight insecurity, we must deal with our economy at the same time. We know that business and insecurity cannot thrive side by side”, he stressed.

Among those at the event were Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu, Group Chief Executive Officer of Oando Plc, Wale Tinubu, former House of Representatives Speaker Dimeji Bankole, former Commissioners in his administration in Lagos, Messers Yemi Cardozo and Dele Alake, former EFCC chairman, Nuhu Ribadu, and Hadiza Bala Usman among others.

-diplomatic diary