Tinubu wrong to have removed fuel subsidy without consulting us- IPMAN

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has urged president Bola Tinubu to reconsider his decision on subsidy removal.

The National Public Relations Officer of IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, said the new government should have dialogue with marketers before taking the decision to remove subsidy.

“We are not in support of the removal of fuel subsidy at this time. We have said it repeatedly that our refineries should be fixed before taking such decision that will cause galloping inflation and inflict more hardship on the masses.

“The government of President Tinubu should not adopt what is in the transition document handed over to it by the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari. Someone (Buhari) who for eight years did not remove subsidy is advising a new government to remove it.

“That is not fair and should not be adopted. Rather the new government should sit and discuss with marketers and other stakeholders on how to manage the fuel subsidy regime. We now have the Dangote Refinery, but all our refineries are still not working, so we don’t think removing subsidy is the right thing to do now.”

Tinubu, during his inaugural speech in Abuja ended the controversy surrounding it, saying that his administration would not continue to pay subsidy on petroleum products.

He said given the high opportunity cost the Federal Government was suffering to fund subsidies, it was no longer justifiable to continue.