Monday 9 January 2012

Fuel Subsidy Removal: Your Take On This

We have been reading the daily papers, listening to the radio and watching the t.v sets…what do we hear and see? nothing but the burning issue that is tearing Nigeria apart! Fuel subsidy removal!

Speaking from the reactions, I would say the average Nigerian(you and I) was actually shocked and totally unprepared for this! Its like the waking up one morning to discover that your car is stolen!  Do you get what I mean?

Well, a lot have been said already but I just want to say it’s a good course for all of us, putting into consideration that this country is still importing petroleum products when we actually own four refineries! For me, it doesn’t make sense! Let the subsidy be removed and let the market force determine the price! Let there be room for competition as individuals join the market force, this would lead to better choices in the long run and even create more job opportunities!

I can understand the pains and grievances but, don’t you think we should go through this hard times now and eventually enjoy the benefits in the long run? I can also understand the issue of TRUST by Nigerians toward the government. A lot of promises have been made in the past to us…unfulfilled promises! So why, should this situation be different from the previous ones?

Also, the way and manner it was implemented was bad! What a terrible way to start a brand new year! We should have been informed and prepared for this months back! Signs of the palliatives being in place would have also be a good advertisement for government and the new policy.

The hike in transport, foodstuffs and other things?   Well, the government has suggested ways they can cushion the effects. So why don’t we wait and see?

 My take on this is… if you don’t try, you don’t succeed!  I’m an optimistic person; I like to be positive rather than negative.  Why don’t we give this government a chance in implementing this fuel subsidy removal and see what happens next?

If you must know, some of the benefits of this fuel subsidy removal are:
  • Opportunities for the private sector to key in and give room for competition just like every other businesses. 
  •  Reduction in corruption and mis- management of funds from the oil sector.
  •  Job opportunities and creation (this would be the long- term benefits) similar to the telecommunication     sector where we have now different key players thriving and giving jobs to   Nigerians!
  •  Less attention in the oil sector as this would enable us to start getting less dependent on oil!  Virtually everything we do in Nigeria is oil-driving!
The idea that only a few people are control of the oil sector is not the best for this country. These few individuals determine the trends and influence decisions to their benefits. This should be dropped! Let it be open! That would come with this fuel subsidy.

What is your take in this issue? What are your views?  How do we move on from this stage to the next level as a country? Has the fuel subsidy benefited you, if yes in what areas? Do you think we are better off without it?   Why?


By the side, I'm also thrilled by the reactions of Nigerians both locally and in diaspora; perhaps its time for us to look at the cost of running the three-tiers of government and work towards deregulating it, if you know what I mean.

Thanks.

“If you are angry, don’t sin by nursing your grudge. Don’t let the sun go down  with you still angry, get over it quickly; for when you are angry, you give a mighty foothold to the devil” –Ephesians 4:26-27

“Anybody can be angry, that is easy; but to be angry with the right reason, and to the right degree, and at the right time, and for the right purpose, and the right way- that is not within everybody’s power and is not easy”- Aristotle


Aliogo Linda

3 comments:

  1. Thank you Linda for bringing this topic up,the question is, is the subsidy that was removed real or imaginary, if imaginary, is there no possibility of further removal of another imaginary subsidy? the administration failed to understand the untold effect their action would cause. Most people are focused on transport as a big headache for the people and the economy. yes this true in the immediate, i must assure that this does not account for one tenth of the resulting difficulties that would follow. I am sure a small scale employer that spends on average N500000 monthly on gas wakes up to find out that he is now going to spend N1500000 on gas, and also more expenses on other secondary charges derived from gas related cost increase on other tools of production; would not hesitate to layoff, and pass additional cost to the consumer.At the end of the day, cost of would have gone up by say 200%, and inflation would have responded with a 2000% increment. Any way, YOU PERCEIVE IT, the common man is cooked and all hell would be let loose. Telling us, the Nigerian people, that you are going to put in place infrastructure to ameliorate the suffering of the people is nothing but a farce, an insult and disrespect to the Nigerian people except for those labor union members that negotiated for their personal interest and not the people of Nigeria. How many buses is the government going to buy 150000000 million people. thanks for the opportunity to say my take on this issue in this forum

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  2. Thanks for your view sameshoe. Let's keep our fingers crossed and see how things unfold. I believe we would get to our destination. With democracy, its now easier for us to air our views... an important step in bringing change. A positive change.

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  3. I hope you are right, i am a natural skeptic, i also hope this change comes in my life time

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