By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The presidency says the most visible impact of the petrol subsidy removal is the increased allocation for states and local government areas (LGAs) in the country.

In a statement on Sunday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser on information & strategy to President Bola Tinubu, responded to the recent comment of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar on the petrol subsidy removal policy.

Atiku said Nigerians deserve explanation on the petrol subsidy savings, adding that it is false to say the savings are being used to fund workers’ welfare.

His statement followed the comment by Taiwo Oyedele, minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, that the federal government will soon publish a detailed account of how savings from the removal of petrol subsidy has been utilised.

According to the minister, a significant portion of the savings went into financing obligations that were previously funded through central bank financing, servicing higher debt costs following tighter monetary conditions, and implementing the new national minimum wage.

Onanuga said prior to the assumption of office by Tinubu’s administration, international institutions have called for the removal of petrol subsidy.

The spokesperson said Nigerians were suffering when resources were being used to pay “fuel-subsidy merchants”.

He added that the government in which Atiku served from 1999 to 2007, did not stop the payment of petrol subsidy.

Onanuga said increased revenue allocation has made states and LGAs to raise spending on infrastructure and salaries.

“It must be said that the government in which Alhaji Atiku was Vice President waded through that toxic phenomenon, and never did the needful,” Onanuga said.

“The current administration deserves commendation for being able to get rid of something that has become a lodestone around the neck of our collective patrimony.

“The visible consequence of subsidy removal has been the sharp improvement in revenues accruing to states and local governments through the Federation Account.

“Higher statutory allocations have expanded fiscal space at the subnational level, enabling many states to increase spending on roads, schools, hospitals, salaries, pensions, and social programmes. Independent assessments, including those from the World Bank, have noted improvements in public revenues and subnational capital spending, which is another word for infrastructural development, following major fiscal reforms.

“This means that President Tinubu has tactically placed more responsibility for socioeconomic development on states and local governments, while providing requisite funding.

“This is true federalism and a bold statement on the much-vaunted subject of economic restructuring – another important issue gallantly avoided by the government in which Alhaji Atiku served and wielded great influence.”

Tinubu announced the removal of petrol subsidy during his inaugural speech as president in 2023.

By Yusuf Danjuma Yunusa

The police confirmed the release of Justice Faruk Hassan Bunza, a judge of the Kebbi State High Court, who was abducted from his residence in the Bunza council area.

Bandits abducted Mr Bunza from his residence on July 26.

A statement on Monday by Bashir Usman, the command’s spokesman, said the judge’s family and the state ministry of justice confirmed his freedom.

“His release has been confirmed by his family and the State Ministry of Justice. Although the kidnappers made a ransom demand, the command maintains its firm stance against ransom payments,” he said.

He stated that with Mr Bunza now released, police and other security agencies had intensified investigative efforts to track down the perpetrators and bring them to justice.

Dangote Cement Plc, Obajana Plant, has deepened its social footprint by distributing educational materials in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital.

General Manager, Social Performance Department, Dangote Cement, Obajana Plant, Ademola Adeyemi, described it as an extension of the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) schemes.

According to him, the Lokoja educational intervention came days after Dangote Cement Plc distributed similar education materials to pupils in public schools in its catchment communities of Oyo, Iwaa, Obajana and Apata; and commissioned a multi-million-naira hospital in Obajana,which added to the growing list of social investments that includes an earlier hospital project in Iwaa and Oyo Communities.

He noted that while, over the years, the company has invested billions of naira in a wide range of social programmes for host communities, including empowerment programmes, road construction, and potable water projects, it remains resolute in its commitment to sustaining and expanding its interventions.

He noted that the company’s corporate social responsibility programmes are aligned with government development priorities and are implemented through sustained, mutually beneficial partnerships.

A statement from the company and made available to newsmen in Lokoja said: “The educational materials distributed included school bags, exercise books, writing materials, water bottles, and other essential learning aids aimed at enhancing the learning experience of the pupils and preparing them for the next academic session.”

It said:” The intervention was informed by findings from a needs assessment conducted by Dangote Cement Plc. During the assessment, it was observed that several pupils attended school without school bags, while others carried their books by hand. It was also discovered that many students lacked essential learning materials such as exercise books, pens, pencils, and other basic learning materials.”

Speaking, Head Teacher of UBE LGEA School, St. Luke Model II, Adankolo, Lokoja Local Government Area, Abubakar Sanni, expressed profound appreciation to the management of Dangote Cement Plc for the gesture.

The Head Teacher expressed gratitude to the Group President of the conglomerate, Aliko Dangote, for extending the company’s educational support programme beyond its host and impacted communities to schools located at the state headquarters.

The beneficiaries, school management, parents, and community stakeholders expressed gratitude to Dangote Cement Plc for the timely intervention and prayed for the continued growth and success of the company in its efforts to improve lives and support sustainable community development.