Outrage Over FG’s Plans To Remove Fuel Subsidy

Nigerians, including lawyers, activists and others have expressed outrage over plans by the Federal Government to remove fuel subsidy by January 2012.

The Federal Government announced its plans on Tuesday to remove fuel subsidy with effect from January and also devalue the naira.

The removal of subsidy will automatically lead to increase in the prices of petroleum products with the attendant effect of rise in the prices of goods and services in the country and further impoverish the already poverty-stricken Nigerians.

Constitutional lawyer, Prof. Itse Sagay described government’s move to remove fuel subsidy as bad.

“What the Federal Government is doing is visiting its failure on the Nigerian populace. How can you be selling crude oil when you have refineries? It is cruel to visit the failure of the government on Nigerians. It is a great tragedy they are trying to inflict on us,” he said.

Comrade Debo Adeniran, Founder, Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders, CACOL, said the move was just to increase the suffering of the masses, saying that this government is so sadistic and always looks for means to oppress the poor.

“This move is ungodly, unwarranted and undemocratic. Nigerians should resist this attempt to inflict suffering on them,” he said.

Comrade Bamidele Aturu also condemned the move to remove fuel subsidy, saying it was just another means of impoverishing the masses and called for resistance.

“It is unacceptable. Nigerians are already suffering enough. They should not try it. In fact, there is not even subsidy anywhere. We will resist it, labour will resist it, activists will resist it and students should resist it,” he added.

Prelate of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Dr. Ola Makinde described the move as bad as the masses were already suffering.

“We are already suffering and any other suffering is unbearable. The Federal Government should think twice and that should not be the dividend of democracy. It will increase the suffering of the people as the prices of commodities will escalate,” he stated.

Mr. Yinka Odumakin, a politician, said the government is toying with fire by planning to remove fuel subsidy in a country where the masses already live below the poverty line and are suffering.

“They want to add to our suffering, they are playing with fire. It is time to say enough is enough. The poverty level is already high,” he lamented.

According to Pastor Tunde Bakare of the Latter Rain Assembly, with this action, the “Nigerian public will soon know whether this government is serving themselves or serving their own interest.”

Activist, Moshood Erubami said he is opposed to the planned removal of fuel subsidy because the masses are already suffering past increases in the prices of fuel by the Obasanjo regime.

“This planned removal of subsidy is more serious. When you remove subsidy the price of everything will go up. It will be calamitous,” he lamented.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga