NIGERIA’S SUBSIDY CIRCUS: IS THIS DEJAVU? By Dayo Awude

 

The Federal Government removed fuel subsidy because “some racketeers were benefiting at the expense of Nigerians”. Instead of going for the jugular of those sabotaging the process and milking the country, the Federal Government took the easy way out as usual, by pushing the burden on the populace. The government could have found a means of securing it’s borders and cleaning up the subsidy processes. The only option the government thought wise was “ALLOWING MARKET FORCES” to drive the fuel regime. Nigerians, particularly the downtrodden became the victims. Price rose overnight from N187 to N580 (more than three times the original!)

Today, the price is about N630 per liter and still counting, yet the grapevine has it that the government is still paying subsidy because the landing cost is more than the selling price in Nigeria. Are we back to subsidy? Can the Federal Government look at us in the face and tell us SUBSIDY IS BACK? If subsidy is back, have the loopholes accounting for the initial removal been taken care of? If not, why remove the subsidy and allow Nigerians to suffer untold hardship in the first place?

I think what a serious government should do is to live up to its responsibilities and simply do its job by cleaning up the subsidy processes, build local refineries, adequately police its borders and mercilessly go after the racketeers. But can the government go after its friends, sponsors and allies? Why does the government take pleasure in inflicting pain on the people whose interest and welfare it should protect in the first place?

Enough of running government by the Rule of the Thumb. Our government must begin to THINK and stay on the side of vulnerable Nigerians.

*DAYO AWUDE*