We Back SERAP On Demand For Fuel Subsidy Manifest

By now federal government should have taken personal failure of fuel subsidy which has become a malignant tumour in our national life. This will arguably show a reflection of her values and emotional makeup.

Present realities point to a troubling fact: lots of Nigerians are unfulfilled, overwhelmed or stagnant because government has woefully failed by forsaking performance in every area of their lives. This glaring failure has given vent to anger and tension in the land with issues like fuel subsidy aggravating it. How does federal government argue away her inefficiencies in managing the nation’s key resource? It is for this reason we backed SERAP’s demand that PPPRA should produce fuel subsidy manifest. This is in line with the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act.

This group’s demand that it produces manifest draws from the public perpetual fear that the figures being churned out may have been exaggerated. It added that information available suggests that some of the vouchers on petroleum products purported imported over three years ago where now being submitted for reimbursement in 2011.

Agonizingly, it is a sad reminder to the fact that Nigeria is the only-oil producing country in the world that has engaged in the importation of refined petroleum product for the past two decades. Sadder also, this subsidized fuel products escaped by smuggling into neighbouring countries where they are later sold at international prices.

More so, there are litanies of argument for fuel subsidy removal like: it will boost growth, lead to focus on the other natural resources with potential to contribute to national development, that it will make funds available for massive infrastructural renewal, health and employment generation projects. Lofty as these argument are, federal government remains an unfaithful bride and it will be difficult to take her words again this time.

Pointedly to, the proposed removal of fuel subsidy which is expected to begin from January 2012 spells doom for a nation whose citizenry’s wellbeing has been on the downward slide. It’s sure going to wipe out purchasing power and this could be further exacerbated by global fears about recession and naira’s fragility. It is hard to deny the fear that it would hamper trade and commercial activities and finally make the investment environment unfriendly for investors who are wont to recoup their investment.

Finally, the government lacks a higher moral ground as it has squandered all the goodwill bestow on her by these patient citizens. It is high time government looks inwardly and show the way forward in responsible and responsive governance. It is time government become a fine model in efficiency, proactive-ness and most especially prove herself in the next 12months by transforming decaying infrastructure and steady growth. This is the way forward after which we can begin to gradually remove or phase out fuel subsidy. For now no to fuel subsidy removal.