President Bola Tinubu has explained why he removed fuel subsidy upon assumption of office in 2023.

Tinubu explained that he removed the subsidy on fuel to prevent Nigeria from going bankrupt.

He issued the explanation during a meeting with the City Boys Movement in Abuja on Monday.

The president also dismissed promises by the opposition presidential candidates to restore fuel subsidy if they are elected in 2027.

According to Tinubu: “I came and I removed subsidy the first day, Nigeria will not go bankrupt because there is nothing left to pay subsidy.

“I listen to my political opponents promising a return to subsidy” but drawing a religious analogy, the president added, “I remember my scripture studies, both in the Bible and the Holy Quran. When Moses (Musa) left Egypt, the Red Sea parted and gave way. You cannot ask Moses to go back to Egypt. With your energy and support, we will never go back to Egypt.”

The president assured that he would campaign on the backdrop of original ideas that would move Nigeria forward.

“We will campaign with ideas, original thoughts and thinking to move this country forward,” he added.

Tinubu had declared an end to fuel subsidy during his presidential inauguration in Abuja in 2023.

The president had said the fuel subsidy only benefited a few Nigerians.

With the 2027 presidential election around the corner, the opposition have promised to return the subsidy on fuel as part of efforts to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians.

Suberu Aniviye, the suspended Niger state commandant of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), has apologised to the families of 37 suspected miners who died in the agency’s custody.

According to reporr, Aniviye tendered the apology while testifying before a panel of inquiry investigating the deaths in Minna, the Niger state capital.

Speaking at the second sitting of the panel chaired by Mohammed Mohammed, a judge, Aniviye appealed to the bereaved families for forgiveness, describing the incident as a costly mistake that could have been avoided.

Aniviye said the operation followed complaints from residents around M.I. Wushishi Housing Estate about mining activities in their communities.

He said he visited the site on September 15 before deploying mining marshals, who arrested the suspected illegal miners the following evening.

The suspended commandant said he learnt of the deaths through a telephone call on September 17 and returned to the command’s office, where he found the bodies lying on the detention cell floor.

Aniviye said he informed Umaru Bago, governor of Niger state, who directed that the bodies be taken to the mortuary.

He added that he also contacted the state commissioner of police and the director of the Department of State Services (DSS).

According to Aniviye, the suspects were scheduled to be arraigned on September 17 before their deaths.

Stephen Tsado, the state’s NSCDC legal officer; and Maryam Etang, a nurse attached to the command’s medical unit; also testified before the panel.

After the sitting, Mohammed led other panel members to the Minna General Hospital mortuary, where the victims’ bodies were kept.

The Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof. Joash Amupitan (SAN), has warned commission staff against partisan politics, insisting that electoral officials must remain neutral and professional ahead of the 2027 general election.

Amupitan gave the warning on Monday during an interactive session with INEC staff from the South-East region shortly after arriving in Enugu on a working visit to engage traditional rulers and electoral stakeholders.

He said the commission would not tolerate unethical conduct or actions capable of undermining public confidence in the electoral process.

“You should not pick interest in any political party. Be neutral and firm. I am hearing that some of you are showing interest in some political parties. This is absolutely wrong.

“The commission wants you to be neutral and professional, both in your words and actions. The commission will not tolerate unprofessional or unethical electoral conduct from any staff,” he said.

The INEC chairman also disclosed that the commission had introduced a reward and sanction mechanism covering its local government, state and national offices to strengthen discipline and accountability among personnel.

He announced plans to move staff from the conventional civil service salary structure to a special salary structure, which he said would take effect from January 1, 2027.

According to him, the move is intended to improve staff welfare and reduce the risk of electoral officials being induced before, during and after elections.

“We want the new salary structure so that you will not easily be induced before, during and after election.

“We are working with other relevant governmental agencies and commissions to make the cash backing for the new salary structure possible,” he said.

Amupitan urged staff to remain diligent and help rebuild public trust in the commission, stressing that their conduct was central to the credibility of elections.

“As an unbiased umpire, we need to improve the confidence and trust the people repose in us by being disciplined and diligent in the discharge of our duties at all times,” he said.

On preparations for the 2027 general election, the INEC chairman disclosed that the commission had provided its Enugu office with 10 new pickup vans, adding that more logistics would be made available.

He said non-sensitive election materials were ready, while contracts for other required materials, including sensitive materials, were being processed.

Amupitan also said massive training and retraining exercises would begin soon to prepare personnel for the new guidelines and regulations introduced under the amended Electoral Act.

“Massive training and retraining will commence soon. The retraining is imperative, given the new guidelines and regulations introduced into the amended Electoral Act,” he added.