NO GOING BACK ON FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL - JONATHAN

PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has said there is no going back on total subsidy removal, though he said the government would continue to dialogue with Nigerians, to make them reason with the government on the need for the removal.

The president, who was speaking at the Nigeria Summit 2013, organised by The Economist, in Lagos, on Tuesday, said it did not make economic sense to continue to waste resources meant for greater number of Nigerians to subsidise the rich in the society, stressing that his government would continue to enlighten Nigerians on the need to remove the subsidy.

“We cannot continue to waste resources meant for a greater number of Nigerians to subsidise the affluent middle class, who are the main beneficiaries,” he said.

It will be recalled that the announcement of partial removal of the subsidy on January 1, 2012 led to a week-long strike and civil unrest.

Source: Tribune