‘Fix Refineries Before Subsidy Removal’

Members of Lagos State Taxi Drivers and Cabs Operators Association, LASTDCOA, have appealed to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, not remove the subsidy on fuel until our refineries are working at full capacity.

The association said that without that, the removal of fuel subsidy would inflict severe economic pains on the masses of the country.

President of the association, Alhaji Lateef Oseni, made the appeal while speaking with P.M.NEWS, on the government decision to remove the subsidy.

Oseni also advised the Federal Government to embark on economic policies that will make life more comfortable for the masses in the country instead of proposing policies that will make life unbearable.

He said: “At the price that fuel is sold in Nigeria, many Nigerians find it difficult to survive. This is a country that is blessed with abundant oil but because our rulers failed to do what they should do we are suffering now.

“If the government removed the subsidy, there will be increase in the price of goods and services. We that are in transport sector will increase transportation fare and this means that price of things will automatically go up.

“What the Federal Government should have done is make our refineries work at full capacity before considering removing the subsidy,” he said.

Oseni called on President Goodluck Jonathan to always formulate policies that will improve the well-being of Nigerians rather than aggravating the suffering of the poor Nigerians.

On the accidents that are associated with the festive periods, the taxi drivers’ leader appealed to commuter and motorists to drive with extra care.

—Paul Sanusi