President Bola Tinubu expressed his view that Nigeria cannot indefinitely play the role of Father Christmas to neighboring countries by subsidizing the price of petrol, also known as premium motor spirit (PMS).
The President said this during a meeting with the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN) at Aso Rock.
Tinubu commended his administration for making the right decision to eliminate petrol subsidies. He referred to the subsidy as a burdensome issue that could have brought the country to its knees, given the ongoing struggle to pay salaries.
The President emphasized that Nigeria should not be overly generous to neighboring nations by providing them with subsidized petrol.
In his words, “Why should we, with good intentions and sense, support smugglers and act as Father Christmas to neighboring countries, even if they claim that Christmas doesn’t occur every day?”
Tinubu drew attention to the detrimental impact of the subsidy, labeling it as an elephantine burden that could have crippled Nigeria.
He highlighted the irony of a country struggling to pay salaries while claiming to possess the potential for self-empowerment.
Expressing gratitude for the audience’s attention to his actions, Tinubu conveyed his willingness to listen and receive counsel.
He assured the traditional rulers of an open-door policy, urging them to communicate any concerns they might have.
While acknowledging that his administration may not always be perfect, the President emphasized the importance of getting things right for the country, aiming for a success rate of 90 percent.
During the meeting, Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammad Saad Abubakar, expressed the full support of the traditional rulers for Tinubu’s administration.
He conveyed their belief that, with the will of Almighty Allah, the President would lead the country forward.