President Bola Tinubu has again explained his decision to end the fuel subsidy regime.
The president gave the explain afresh during an audience with a delegation of South-West Muslim faithful, led by Alhaji Rasaki Oladejo, in Abuja on Friday, his media aide, Ajuri Ngelale, said.
Tinubu announced an end to the fuel subsidy regime during his inauguration on May 29.
Due to the Federal Government’s decision to end payment of fuel subsidy, the pump price of petrol jumped by over 300 percent from below N200/litre to N600/per litre in many parts of the country.
Speaking on Friday, the president justified the decision to end the fuel subsidy regime, saying the nation would have collapsed if it continued.
Tinubu further said the current challenges facing the nation are only temporary, assuring Nigerians that better days are in the offing.
“We have to believe in one country; we have to believe in Nigeria. We will do our best, and our economy will get better for the benefit of Nigerians. I am very sure of that, and we are putting in the work to ensure that,” the president said.
Tinubu noted that the policies and programmes of his administration are aimed at achieving a fairer, better and honest society where hard work is rewarded and where laziness reaps little.
“It is about our future. We must guarantee our future. Almighty Allah will not give us a burden that we cannot bear. He has put us here for a purpose. It may look difficult; even rough, but it will get better. We avoided it (removing petroleum subsidy) for 40 years. We are all going through the pain now, but for Nigeria not to collapse, we had to remove the subsidy.
“In the history of successful nations, there is nothing more vital than the leadership of a nation making difficult decisions at the right time and for the right reasons. There would have been no money for the subnationals,” the president declared.
Tinubu commended the leaders for their prayers and support, assuring them that his administration is determined to empower the youth with skills and create an enabling environment for them to prosper.