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Spending N6.7trn On Subsidy Not Healthy For Nigeria’s Economy, FG Admits
The Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Agba, has said that spending N6.7trillion on fuel subsidy is not healthy for Nigeria’s economy.
Agba said this in Benin while speaking with journalists shortly after being honoured by the Universal Reggae Fans Movement (URFAM)as its grand patron.
“Often time we tend to blame government and when I look at the finances of the country, I know that we are a poor nation and I know that it is wrong for instance to spend N6.7trillion on fuel subsidy and not healthy for the economy.
“Ask yourself, if the PMS production is really N165, even if 100 Nigeria refineries are running in Nigeria, is production at the current crude rate N165?, it is not.But if you want to remove it, the citizens will say no.
“They said they want an omelette but they said you shouldn’t break eggs.They complained that the exchange rate is high, but we are not producing anything that we need to sell to earn dollars so that the exchange rate would be low. That is the aberration that we have in Nigeria.”
Agba decried that Nigerians continue to blame our colonial master and past leaders on the nation’s problem when we are not ready to make sacrifice.
“Nobody is ready to make sacrifices and contribute toward the development of our nation but everybody is asking of what they can get from the country.
“Last year I had a Nigerian musician saying that he made $25million and he is not paying tax. We should pay tax because the money that the government is using is from taxes.
“But no one wants to make that sacrifice and contribution but they want to take from the country and don’t want to give the country. That is why we need, a change of attitude”.
On the 2022 election, Agba charged Nigerians to vote those with proven leadership records and not those who have nothing to show for their previous positions being held by them while in office.
“As we move toward this election, you have to look at the individual.What does that individual believe in?Does that person have a pedigree?Was he a governor before?If yes:What did he do in his state? Is it something worthy to be replicated at the federal level?
“So, the people that we need to vote for in the forthcoming election are those that produce and not those that consume. We don’t need ‘Obidient’ production by mouth but the real and actual productive people”, he said.
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.