Nigeria Economic Woes Increases, as Revenue Drops By 65% |READ DETAILS
Afnews Editor
Sep 14, 2020
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, says Nigeria's revenue has dropped by about 65 per cent.
READ ALSO: I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
She said this necessitated the decision of the President Muhammadu Buhari , to discontinue the payment of petrol subsidy.
READ ALSO: Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Ahmed said this on NTA's 'Good Morning Nigeria' programme on Monday which was monitored by our correspondent.
READ ALSO: How U.S. Shot Down Missile Fired At It's Destroyer Ship | READ DETAILS
She said if the petrol subsidy returns, it would lead to fuel scarcity because the government would not be able to pay marketers.
READ ALSO: Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
The minister stated, "What we have been doing is not sustainable. If we bring back fuel subsidy, we will fail because we will not be able to pay it and the problem of disputes with marketers will come back, then we will have queues again. We just cannot afford it and therefore this deregulation must be made to work.
"We appeal to Nigerians to understand that in the past when subsidy was done, we could afford to do it but right now, we cannot pay. Remember that right now our revenue has gone down by about 65 per cent. So, it is not business as usual. We cannot do what we used to do anymore."
READ ALSO: Abia Speaker Visits Monday Ubani, Condoles with Family over Father's Demise
She said Nigeria is currently facing difficult times like many other countries around the world.
The minister stated that the price of petrol would henceforth be determined by the price of crude oil.
When asked if subsidy would return if the price of crude oil bounces back to how it was in previous years, Ahmed said it was unlikely that would happen.
READ ALSO: 'Nwandugbom Abiriba': Abia Speaker Congratulates Chief John Okiyi Kalu on His New Chieftaincy Title
She, however, said the decision remains that subsidy would not return.
Related Stories
REVEALED: How All Progressives Congress (APC) Played Into The Opposition Hands Ahead Of 2027 - Sumner Sambo Warns
I Will Not Allow Criminality As President, Peter Obi Declares
Why El-Rufai Was Returned To ICPC Custody?
Sowore's Miscalculation and the Need to beat a Wise Retreat
Tinubu Breaks Silence on Hardship, Inflation, Power Crisis - Vows Nigeria Will Overcome Economic Storm
"Terrorists Have Outgunned Our Troops" - Ndume Raises Alarm Over Boko Haram War, Sends Urgent Message To Tinubu
""
— Afnews Editor