Nigerians Moan Due To Fuel Increase

On Wednesday, 11th May, the Federal Government (FG) of Nigeria announced the new pump price of PMS (petrol) to be #145 per litre as they no longer can afford to subsidize the product anymore. What this means is consumers get to bear the full burden while the government get to save more revenue to meet other expenditures. The question is: Is that their (FGs) best? Is that the only idea they can come up with as a solution to a never ending problem?

Looking back at Nigeria’s history, both at public and private levels, it has always been the norm to ‘pass the bulk’ to end-users and since these users can’t pass the bulk to anyone else, they either ‘pay or perish’. But the worst part of it all is that there are no favourable alternatives to choose from. There are no favourable alternatives to compensate for any policy change that will negatively affect the populace.

Remember during ex-president Jonathan’s tenure, when he gave Nigerians ‘New year gift’ and Lagos was shut down for 6 working days before the pump price was brought down to #87 from #97. The government of the day then promised to provide public transportation as a means of ensuring affordable transportation. I saw those promised buses – 3 green ones – move in a convoy along Oshodi – Gbagada axis. That was the first and only time I saw those buses. So where are the buses now and what happened to the other promises made back then? Inability to answer this question already faults the prospective plans of this current administration even though their ‘cause’ sounds good on paper.

Any good government must understand that for any of its policy to be considered good, it should positively affect the majority of the people and not the minority. Secondly, before such a policy can come to effect there needs to be ‘compensatory packages’ to help reduce the adverse effects it will cause. This is where government over time have failed time after time after time.

Come to think of it a Fashola talks of increasing the power tariff. How will that solve Nigeria’s power challenges? How will it correct the crazy estimated billing anomaly being experienced by non-prepaid consumer or is the minister only interested in generating more revenue? A Buhari removes fuel subsidy as a means of saving revenue but in the process has impoverished the people the more, increased the inflation rate and cost of living and reduced the standard of living of the average Nigerian. He was quick to increase the pump price but how has he answered the following questions:

• When will our refineries start working in full capacity?
• When will fuel importation stop?
• When will the pump price be reduced to a more reasonable amount as reflected in the international market price for crude oil?
• What compensatory packages does the government have in order to alleviate the suffering of the masses?

This has always been the problem of Nigeria

• Pass the bulk to Nigerians without making alternative compensation for it. Imagine this, increasing power tariff yet no light nor backup except to buy a generator; increase pump price but no constant electricity nor means of affordable transportation in substantial quantities; erecting toll gates but no good roads, drainage or alternative routes to pass most of the time etc.
• Making empty promises.
• Lacking ideas or brainstorming techniques: always looking for the easiest way out.
• Corruption.

The Nigerian labour Congress (NLC) gave the FG a 4 day ultimatum to reverse the pump price to its original price or be faced with a nationwide strike which starts on Wednesday, 18th May. 

• Will Buhari stick to his guns and be labelled ‘wicked and insensitive’ just as how he and APC stalwarts labelled the ex. President or will he swallow his words and compromise just as his predecessor did 4 years ago?

Only time will tell.