President Bola Tinubu has declared that  Nigeria would no longer play Father Christmas role to neighbouring countries.

Speaking at an interactive session with traditional rulers under the aegis of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), at the Aso Rock yesterday. The president said; “I am grateful that you are paying attention to what I have been doing. You have paid attention to the subsidy removal. Why should we in good heart and sense, feed smugglers and be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries, even though they say not everyday is Christmas?

According to him, his administration took the right decision by removing the subsidy on petrol. He described the subsidy as an elephant that could have brought the country to its knees because it struggles to pay salaries. He said Nigeria should not be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries by providing them subsidised petrol.

Tinubu said:

“You have paid attention to the subsidy removal. Why should we, in good heart and sense, feed smugglers and be Father Christmas to neighbouring countries, even though they say not every day is Christmas?

“The elephant that was going to bring Nigeria to its knees is the subsidy. A country that cannot pay salaries, and we say we have the potential to encourage ourselves. I think we did the right thing.”