'N522bn subsidy payment will end fuel scarcity', Minister says

The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the approval of N522 billion by the National Assembly for subsidy payment will end fuel scarcity in the country.

Mohammed said this when he paid a courtesy visit to the Corporate Headquarters of Media Trust Ltd., the publisher of Daily Trust and Weekly Trust Newspapers.

"What was approved yesterday, the entire N574 billion, N522 billion of it is for subsidy while the balance is to continue the war effort in the north eastern part of Nigeria.

"Now people asked us why did we wait for this to happen. The truth of the matter is that the money in 2015 budget for fuel subsidy was exhausted and we had to go back to the National Assembly to ask for approval.

"We have the money, we could easily have paid them but that would be unlawful to be spending without the appropriation.

''But I can assure you that by the grace of God, Nigerians will not have to experience this kind of scarcity again.''

He said the visit was to commend the Media Trust Ltd for reflecting his party’s views and executing editorial independence and profession in the run up to the general elections.

In his response, the Chairman, Editorial Board of the Media Trust Ltd., Alhaji Kabiru Yusuf, commended the minister for the visit, saying this kind of visit would help the company to engage government on national issues.

"Let me say thank you Honourable Minister for taking trouble to be here. You have been here before but we are glad to welcome you and also wish you well in this difficult job of being Minister of Information. We wish you God’s guidance in your duties.''