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For a while now, I have deliberately ignored commenting on
the happenings in our country because one cannot speak against this government
without being labelled ‘pro-Jonathan’, ‘pro-PDP’ or ‘anti-Buhari’. I know
that this government needs time to get her foot firmly planted but refusing to
see anything wrong with some of her policies – or the lack of it - is just
wrong.
Today however, it is important that I break my silence.
The Minister of Petroleum (State), Ibe Kachikwu, announced
that fuel subsidy had been removed and the new pump price of petrol would now
range from ₦135 to ₦145; with ₦145 as the price cap/ceiling. This is, by simple calculation, a 67% increase from
the official pre-fuel-subsidy-removal price of ₦86.50.
In the last 2 to 4 months leading to this removal, Nigerians had
to battle fuel scarcity and annoyingly long queues at filling stations. As
anyone who has had to endure such queues, you know that the wait was dreary,
stifling and a complete waste of time. Even at that, there was no guarantee
that we would get fuel at the stipulated price. I remember being on a queue for
4 hours as my friend tried to get fuel. After the long hours of wait, my friend
got the fuel and had to sneak ₦500 to the fuel pump attendant so she could get
fuel for her generator.
Even more than the long queues were the consequent effect of
the fuel scarcity; THE PRICE OF EVERYTHING WENT UP! The price of food, clothes,
fees and taxes, and transportation went up. The things one could spend ₦1000 on gradually became fewer and fewer.
I felt the pinch more with transportation. I do not drive so I
have to use public transport to get me where I want to go. The transport fares
in Lagos that were already too high, got higher still. My daily transport of ₦700
went up to about ₦1200; more than 71% increase.
This may be comfortable for a person with a steady, high income but as I didn’t
have a job or business at the time, it was a big bite on me. Even among friends who had what I would deem ‘plush’ jobs, the complaint about the increased cost
of transportation was bitter.
With this fuel subsidy removal, thus increase in fuel price, I
believe that life will get progressively harder. Oh! The logic behind the
removal is stellar as explained below;
·
Nigeria CANNOT afford to pay fuel subsidies now;
·
Competition would probably bring the price of fuel
down;
·
More people will be able to get into the business of
refined oil, thus removing the case of the cabals;
·
Channeling the money that would have been used for
subsidy into renovating our refineries and producing our own oil needs;
·
Improving other sectors of the economy with the subsidy
money and;
·
Eventually cutting down on fuel imports when we have
our refineries up and running.
But the timing is poor! Many Nigerians are literally groaning
under the current hardship we are facing. Just as Nigeria cannot afford to
continue to pay these subsidies, Nigerians CANNOT afford this current policy!
Already, fuel stations are beginning to hoard the product
with the prospect of selling at higher prices. This means that transportation
fares WILL go up again! Food prices will follow suit and soon enough, EVERYTHING
will be more expensive.
If this fuel subsidy removal came at a time when basic
salaries were manageable, many Nigerians would not grunt under the burden that
is about to get heavier. But no; salaries are poor! How will Nigerians survive
this? And for those of us who have no viable jobs…do I even need to ask?
One doesn’t need to be ‘pro-Jonathan’ or ‘pro-PDP’ to see and
SAY that though the long term effects of this removal would probably be great,
the current effects will be damning on most Nigerians.
What then are we to do?
WE PRAY AND HOPE THINGS GET BETTER...
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