TheCable

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says the federal government understands the difficulty Nigerians are facing following the petrol subsidy removal.

Idris spoke in reaction to comments credited to Godwin Obaseki, governor of Edo state.

The governor had said he was shocked that the federal government did not have a plan in place before implementing the subsidy removal.

Reacting in a statement issued on Thursday, the minister said the government under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu is working to make the country prosperous.

“The federal government understands the current difficulties Nigerians are facing and is working very hard with the states and local governments to bring succour to our people,” he said.

“President Tinubu is guiding our country through very challenging times. We are supremely confident that we will soon turn the corner into a prosperous future.

“What is required at this time is for leaders at all levels to cooperatively bind together to make life better for Nigerians, not to play cheap politics that serves no better purpose.

“As President Tinubu has admonished, the time for politics and politicking is over.”

Idris said Edo under Obaseki has benefited from subsidy removal in terms of more allocation to the state.

“Rather than delving into narratives which do not provide the complete picture, the focus should be on how the Edo state government will be using available resources to drive impactful projects that genuinely uplift the people of Edo State,” he said.

The minister said Tinubu’s decisions are based on foresight, “with the primary aim of engineering a resilient and sustainable economy”.