Jonathan seeks patience, support on subsidy reinvestment programme 'Petroleum subsidy removal, a necessity -Jonathan

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed for patience and support of the people of Edo State and the South-South for the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) programme of his administration.The president restated that the need to curb corruption, provide job opportunities, enhance the quality of education and make agriculture viable informed the decision to withdraw fuel subsidy.Jonathan spoke at a Town Hall meeting on Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment (SURE) Programme at the weekend, in Benin City, Edo State capital.The president, represented by his Special Adviser (Political), Ahmed Gulak, said the proceeds from the subsidy removal would be reinvested as spelt out in his administration's SURE Programme.He told the people of the state to be patient with his administration, saying in a few months, Nigerians would be reaping the benefits of the removal of fuel subsidy.President Jonathan said government would not shield anybody involved in malpractice in the oil sector, just as he added that he believed in the youth and that the focus of his administration was on the youth.Former Edo State deputy governor and the state coordinator of the SURE Programme, Mr Lucky Imasuen, said the Federal Government had appointed credible people to carry out the programme, just as he called on state and local authorities to be accountable to their shares of the fund from the removal of the fuel subsidy.Meanwhile,PresidentGoodluckJonathan has said the removal of subsidy on petroleum is an economic necessity, though the duration of the recent protest against the policy was challenging.President Jonathan was speaking to Mr Ban Ki Moon, United Nations' Secretary-General, on the sidelines of the 18th African Union Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Governments in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.'The duration of the protest was challenging, but I am happy that it ended well,' he said.President Jonathan also told the UN scribe that government would take up the matter of compensation for oil spills with Shell very soon, with a view to reaching an amicable resolution.He thanked the UN for the constant support given to Nigeria.Earlier, Mr Ki Moon had said that subsidy removal was necessary for economic growth. He commiserated with President Jonathan over the terrorist attacks in Nigeria, and offered to support any efforts to halt the menace.The UN Secretary- General also said African nations must cooperate to help resolve the problems in Sudan.
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