There seems confusion over the proposed strategies by the Federal Government to leave fuel subsidy by 2022.

While the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan confirmed that President Muhammadu Buhari has not directed any of his authorities to remove fuel subsidy on account of the dominating economic difficulty, the Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed on Wednesday differed with the latter’s position, saying he was unsure if the presidency had actually directed otherwise.

Mohammed who is the representative of the federal government, however, promised to initiate a fact-finding objective to figure out the real position of the federal government on the removal of petroleum subsidy.

He stated this while instruction State House Correspondents after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, at the presidential rental property, Abuja on Wednesday.

His reaction remained in action to a question that he must offer clarity on the alleged plans to remove aid since the 2022 spending plan has no subsidy provision beyond June 2022.

Mohammed said he would require to talk to the pertinent government firms to figure out the precise position of the subsidy elimination concern.

“As for the removal of fuel aid, I believe you will provide me time to consult with relevant departments and ministries and I will return to you,” he said.

DAILY POST recalls the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Ahmed, discussing in October last year, stated the federal government only made arrangement for fuel subsidy for the very first 6 months of 2022 since it was seriously thinking about total deregulation of the sector.

“In our 2022 budget, we only factored in aid for the very first half of the year; the second half of the year, we are looking at complete deregulation of the sector, saving foreign exchange and possibly earning more from the oil and gas industry,” she had said.

The Senate President who satisfied with Buhari on Tuesday confided in press reporters that the President had not directed anybody in his administration to implement the elimination of petroleum aid.

The Senate President had actually mentioned: “Well, it will be of interest to Nigerians to hear what I came to talk about with Mr. President among a number of other things.

“Many of us are extremely worried about the recent agitations, protests and lots of citizens were so concerned, our constituents throughout the country are extremely worried that the federal government will get rid of the petroleum subsidy. And for us, as parliamentarians, as legislators representing the people of Nigeria, this must be of interest to us”.

Beyond these controversies, the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, Mele Kyari had actually said the government was indeed overloaded with supplying subsidies for daily fuel consumption of the residents.