Citizens of Nigeria are being urged by Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, to remain patient as they await the beneficial outcomes of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms. Nigerians were gently prompted that President Tinubu’s tenure was merely seven months old, emphasizing the necessity of patience to witness the advantageous outcomes of the well-planned tactics. He has made it crystal clear that Tinubu’s objective of guiding Nigeria towards the state of desired prosperity is evident and lacks any ambiguity. The minister emphasized that citizens should bear in mind that the president has only been in office for a mere seven months. However, he refused to offer any justifications for this relatively brief period.
Nevertheless, in order to formulate a comprehensive strategy with lasting effects, a significant amount of time is required to establish the necessary foundations. Undoubtedly, on this arduous journey, one will encounter unexpected setbacks, upheavals, and sporadic disruptions. Nevertheless, the president’s aspiration for Nigeria is resolute: to lead the nation towards the coveted realm of prosperity. Despite the ministers and all individuals tirelessly striving towards the goal day and night, the anticipated outcomes have yet to materialize. He, on behalf of the President and other ministers, kindly urged Nigerians to exhibit a tad more patience. It can be a challenging situation, particularly when individuals face difficulty in acquiring food commodities due to these policies. However, the government is implementing significant measures to tackle these concerns.
CNG initiative by FG will reduce transportation expenses.
Acknowledging the government’s knowledge of the struggles experienced by Nigerians, he provided reassurance that the nation’s leaders were putting in relentless efforts to counteract this trajectory. In light of the subsidy removal, the minister additionally stated that the government had implemented certain measures to mitigate the consequences arising from this decision. He enumerated a few of them which encompassed the wage accolades bestowed upon federal government employees and the nationwide implementation strategy for introducing CNG buses. As a sign of acknowledgement, the minister expressed admiration for the exceptional endeavours of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in promoting the cause of Green Energy which was initiated by the federal government after the elimination of fuel subsidy.
In Abuja, Minister Rabiu Ibrahim’s media aide released a statement quoting Idris. The statement mentioned that Idris expressed his praise during a meeting with the National Executive Committee of IPMAN in his office on February 1, 2024. According to his statement, the CNG initiative was being pursued by the federal government with the goal of reducing transportation expenses by more than 50%. The elimination of fuel subsidy naturally led to an increase in the price of PMS , as anticipated. Consequently, this will impact the commuting expenses of Nigerians traveling to and from their workplaces. He expressed his satisfaction in knowing that the federal government had taken swift and strategic action by implementing the CNG, among other strategies. The primary objective of this initiative is to significantly reduce transportation expenses by over 50%.
Implementation of tax exemptions for CNG kit importers.
Furthermore, he applauded IPMAN for being at the forefront of this progressive movement towards achieving the CNG. In Nigeria, the minister acknowledged that Tinubu’s courageous decision to eliminate the fuel subsidy has opened up an unparalleled chance for entities such as IPMAN to spearhead transformative changes in the country’s energy sector. He stated that Nigeria, as a country, eagerly sought different approaches to decrease transportation expenses and firmly believed that opting for CNG was the most reliable solution. Idris announced that the initial allocation of funds by the federal government for the procurement of CNG buses and the Construction of CNG centres nationwide amounts to N100 billion. He also mentioned the implementation of Tax exemptions for CNG kit importers and other stakeholders in the sub-sector.
He reminded them that the initial action taken by the Federal Government involved allocating a sum of ₦100 billion for the acquisition of CNG buses and the creation of CNG facilities nationwide. Acknowledging the significance of IPMAN’s support in President Tinubu’s ambitious Renewed Hope Agenda, the minister expressed gratitude for their recognition of his ministry and its various agencies as valuable allies in their joint mission to combat the dissemination of false information regarding IPMAN’s undertakings. Lamenting the considerable harm inflicted upon the diverse threads of the society by fabricated information, he expressed his deep concern. He went on to explain how his ministry’s partnership with UNESCO offered a glimmer of hope, as they joined forces to devise effective strategies in combatting the pernicious problem of false news.
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The minister promised to enhance the exposure of the association’s internally curated program called IPMAN Today across multiple public information agencies overseen by his ministry. Idris made a commitment to effectively incorporate the 30,000 strong organization of IPMAN to execute the initiatives outlined in the National Value Charter, aimed at fostering value re-orientation. IPMAN President, Alhaji Abubakar Maigandi Shettima, expressed his full support for Tinubu’s CNG Initiative during his statement. He also committed to collaborating with the government on the green energy program, as it will greatly contribute to the achievement of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He strongly condemned the continuous manipulation of petroleum prices caused by the dissemination of false information and requested the ministry’s assistance in tackling this harmful issue.