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Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilization, Malam Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has once again defended the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy. He said the policy was necessary to free funds for development.
Senior Special Assistant to President Tinubu on Public Enlightenment and Mass Mobilization, Malam Abdulaziz Abdulaziz, has once again defended the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy. He said the policy was necessary to free funds for development.
Speaking at the maiden Arewa Media Summit in Kano, Abdulaziz said the money saved from the old subsidy scheme is now being used to fund developmental projects.
He listed road networks, the health sector, and soft loans to help students pay registration fees as key areas.
The presidential aide described subsidy removal as one of the major achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. He said the reform will ensure long-term economic stability.
The presidential aide described subsidy removal as one of the major achievements of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government. He said the reform will ensure long-term economic stability.
However, Abdulaziz was observed facing pushback from some participants at the summit. Many Northern delegates expressed unhappiness, saying the removal of subsidy has worsened hardship in the region.
Some attendees argued that subsidy removal is what “killed the North” and brought widespread economic hardship. They said the cost of transport, food, and basic services has become unbearable.
While addressing the concerns, Abdulaziz urged calm. He said the government understands the pain but insists the short-term hardship will lead to long-term gains through infrastructure and social support programs.
Earlier in his speech, the SSA also charged media practitioners and influencers to verify information before publishing. He warned that misinformation could deepen distrust between government and citizens ahead of 2027.
The Arewa Media Summit ended with mixed reactions. While the presidency maintained that subsidy savings are delivering results, many Northern stakeholders left the hall still demanding more direct relief and transparency on how the funds are being spent.
In his remark, Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who welcomed participants and commended the federal government and organizers for choosing Kano as host.
The Governor emphasized that the media has a responsibility to promote peace, unity and accurate information, especially in Northern Nigeria.
He also highlighted key projects of his administration in education, healthcare and infrastructure, and called for partnership between government and the media to project developmental achievements to the public.
Earlier, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, was also present and addressed the summit.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is committed to transparency and to bridging the information gap between government and citizens.
Idris defended the removal of fuel subsidy, stating that the funds saved are being reinvested into roads, health, education and student support programs.
He urged journalists, content creators and influencers to prioritize fact-checking to combat fake news, especially ahead of the 2027 elections.
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