The recent decision by the Federal Government to announce a new price regime for Premium Motor Spirit is one taken for the overall interest of Nigeria. The decision is also one that is taken as measure to address the paucity of foreign exchange for importation of refined petroleum products. Information and Culture Minister, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while addressing the press on the State of the Nation.
The decision by the Federal Government to increase the price of the premium motor spirit has pitched Nigerians against the Federal Government with divergent opinions also expressed even within the Labour and Civil Societies Coalition. But according to the Information and Culture Minister, the decision is one that is in the best interest of Nigeria and all Nigerians. He urges Nigerians to understand that the Federal Government has taken the decision with the highest sense of responsibility.
He added that the Federal Government is working to ensure that the subsidy regime draining the nation’s purse is permanently removed. The 2016 Budget according to the Minister does not make provision for subsidy and so the new price regime is not a case of removing subsidy. He however assures all Nigerians that the new price regime will bring a lot of benefits to the country especially the economy.