The Federal Government says it is considering how best to achieve fuel subsidy removal without disrupting livelihoods in Nigeria.
Amb. Gabriel Aduda, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, said this while briefing newsmen on Thursday at the end of the Nigeria International Energy Summit (NIES 2023).
He said the Federal Government was committed to fuel subsidy removal but could not be too specific until all indices were considered, to ensure that the effect would not be harsh on average Nigerians.
The summit was declared open by President Muhammadu Buhari, represented by Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha.
The sixth edition of NIES, which was held from April 16 to April 20, had as its theme, “Global Perspectives for a Sustainable Energy Future.”
Aduda said although fuel subsidy removal had been in focus for some time, but President Buhari, who doubles as Minister of Petroleum Resources, was taking it very seriously, including everyone in the industry.
“We understand the importance of the removal of fuel subsidy but we also understand the greater importance of the citizens in the scheme of things.
“As we speak we are still taking a very close look at how best to achieve subsidy without disrupting the entire ecosystem of livelihood in Nigeria.
“Because that is our responsibility as government. We have to ensure that the buffers are in place and forex is made available for imports.
“We have to ensure that supply is available for a minimum of six months to make disruption minimal,” he assured.
He said there were quite several factors to look at but the government was committed to it.
The permanent secretary said to match words with action, the 2024 NIES would begin with a session on the fallouts of suggestions made in 2023 as agreed in the communique.
According to him, items achieved between 2022 and 2023 would be listed, which would include rules and regulations by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
He said the recommendations of the NEIS would form part of policy implementation.
NAN
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")
