Senate President Lawan Reveals Buhari’s Stance on Removal of Petrol Subsidy after Aso Villa Meeting

Senate President Ahmed Lawan has said President Muhammadu Buhari did not direct anyone in his administration to implement the removal of petroleum subsidy.

Daily Trust reported that Lawan said this after meeting with Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Tuesday, January 18.

The Senate president said he told President Buhari about the feelings and concerns of his constituents on critical issues, including the proposed removal of subsidy.

He added that he raised the issue with the president because lawmakers were worried about the agitations and protests around the country over the move to end petrol subsidy.

Addressing newsmen after the meeting, Lawan said he was glad to inform Nigerians that President Buhari had not told anyone to remove petroleum subsidy.

He said:

“Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I’ve come to discuss with Mr. President among several other things.
“Many of us are very concerned with the recent agitations, protests, and many citizens were so concerned, our constituents across the country are very concerned that the federal government will remove the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us.

“And we’ve just finished our recess, we had gone home to our constituencies and senatorial districts. And will felt the pulse of our people. And I found it necessary to visit Mr. President, as the the leader of our government and our leader in the country, to discuss this particular issue of concern to Nigerians, and I’m happy to inform Nigerians that Mr. President never told anyone that the petroleum subsidy should be removed.”
Recall that the minister of finance, budget and national planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed, had announced in October 2021 that the federal government made provision for petrol subsidy only for the first six months of 2022 as the government looked towards complete deregulation of the sector.

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