The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has been closely following the recent developments in the country, particularly the removal of fuel subsidy by the previous administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. The removal of subsidy was a common promise made by all major presidential candidates in the 2023 general election, highlighting the fraudulent nature of the regime.
The previous administration did not display political will in ending the subsidy regime but instead created a landmine for the new administration. It is time for the current government to unravel the fraud and probe into the spending on refineries for the past eight years to earn public trust and confidence.
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC)’s opposition to the removal of subsidy is viewed with suspicion, as they have failed the masses in the past. The NLC should not deceive the public and try to cash out from the removal of subsidy. Furthermore, the independent marketers and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) are profiting off the citizens by adjusting their pump prices to over N500.000 after the announcement of subsidy removal.
The government should handle the removal of subsidy with caution and further engage major stakeholders, including the youths, religious, and traditional leaders. They should also ask the marketers to revert to the old price until the end of June when the subsidy will end while checking the nefarious activities of petroleum marketers. The government should also use part of the money that will be saved from subsidy withdrawal to revive at least two of the four refineries and grant more licenses for building refineries.
The removal of subsidy is a good decision for the country’s overall interest, and the NLC should not be a cog in the wheel of progress. The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide supports the government and urges them to navigate over the subsidy landmine with the right mindset and focused leadership. The citizens should not be taxed twice, and the government should take measures to stop sabotage of the economy by petroleum marketers.
In conclusion, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide implores the government to handle the removal of fuel subsidy with caution, investigate the spending on refineries in the past eight years and engage major stakeholders. The removal of subsidy is a step towards reducing fraud and reviving the economy, but the government must ensure that citizens are not taxed twice and that petroleum marketers do not sabotage their efforts.
