Fuel scarcity: Presidency opens upon Kachikwu’s claims

Femi Adesina, the special adviser on media and publicity to President Muhammadu Buhari, in a live radio interview monitored by Naij.com on Radio Continental 102.3 FM, Continental Sunrise on Friday, April 22, spoke on the president’s recent trip to China, the controversy surrounding the 2016 budget, the current fuel crisis and grazing bill.

 

Below are excerpts from the interview:

You just returned from China along with the president, what took the president to China?

China has a surface of infrastructure and Nigeria has infrastructure deficit. So what took us out was how can we benefit from this surface that China has in terms of infrastructure like power, transportation especially rail, housing, agriculture, solid minerals all the sectors that Nigeria needs improvement. How can China can be of benefit to us, so that what why the president and his delegation went to China. I must say it was a splendid visit, that inspired every member of the delegation.

READ ALSO: Presidency says Buhari didn’t sign loan in China

Did you actually borrow money from China?

Borrowing money was never on the table. The issue was that one news agency ran a false story that we asked for $2 billion loan. The reporter apologized but didn’t not retract it because it is an international. But unfortunately Nigerians hear the first thing and believe it

What happened was that there were investment deals and in investment deals not every thing is a grant you have a part to play. Nigeria is playing the role of counterpart funding.

On the fuel scarcity what is exactly going on as Nigerians felt this would not happen in the administration of President Buhari?

During Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, April  20, the minister of petroleum Ibe Kachikwu briefed the council of the fuel situation. He gave 8 reasons why there is that crisis. If you hear the reasons you would be very sad for Nigeria.

One of the reasons he gave is that when this government took over there was fuel subsidy deficit which has been reduced to N600 billion one is still hanging. Another is there was no single drop of reserve left, how can a country not have any reserve.

Recently there was a news item on grazing bill, that it has allegedly passed second reading at the National Assembly?

 

There is nothing called grazing bill, it doesn’t exist. It is the figment of some people’s imagination.What happened o that is the governors agreed to what we call ranching for cattle rearers. When you have this in different states cattle rearers don’t have to drive their cattle in the wild again.

READ ALSO: FG will stop Fulani herdsmen attacks in the country – Adesina

There is this issue of the loud silence of President Buhari on the menace of herdsmen in the country which is causing havoc in the country?

When it first happened especially the Agatu massacre a statement was issued which was signed by Shehu Garba, my colleague after running it by the president. The statement issued is the opinion of the president. When the Agatu crisis happened he decried it saying he would ask for security briefing on it and something will be done. The president has spoken on it

During the president’s interview with Aljazeera in Qatar, he said this herdsmen and farmers clash is as old as time and something will be done about it. The federal, state and even local government would consult and that is how this ranching idea came about.

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