By Wasiu Owolewa
Barely some hours after the inaugural address by the newly sworn-in President of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, report has it that some filling stations and petroleum marketers in some states have been hoarding fuel following the declaration by the new administration to remove subsidy on petroleum product come June 30.
President Tinubu had in his inaugural address made it known that subsidizing the petroleum product is no longer justifiable because it has increasingly favoured the rich than the poor. He has categorically made it known that, money used to subsidize fuel would be re-channel into what will be of good for Nigerians.
He said, “We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor. Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions”
It is saddened and mind-boggling that the declaration by the president was misinterpreted by some heartless owners of filling stations and fuel marketers to start inflicting hardship on Nigerians by creating artificial scarcity of the product.
Taking a vivid look at what the President said as regards the subsidy removal one will be convinced that the new administration intends to address some abnormalities with a view to improving the well-being of Nigerians. But there are some saboteurs that are hell bent of drawing back the wheel of progress of our dear nations.
If we must ask ourselves, why are they refusing to sell fuel to Nigerians on the mere mentioning of subsidy removal despite that the implementation is not with immediate effect?
These so called fuel marketers are not doing Nigerians and the new administration any good by hoarding the petroleum product. If they are dissatisfied with the president’s pronouncement I think the best thing to do is to find a way of reaching out to the President and let him know the reason why subsidy should not be removed on fuel not to be inflicting unnecessary hardship on Nigerians. This is sheer wickedness and selfishness on the part of owners of filling stations.
The action of filling stations who deliberately refused to sell fuel to the people shows clearly that we are the problem not the government.
Does the declaration by President Tinubu to remove fuel subsidy means that the filling stations should not sell to the public? Does it mean that they should subject Nigerians to unnecessary hardship? Haba! Why now? Why this sheer of wickedness?
It is common with us in Nigeria to attribute every difficulty to the government meanwhile most of these difficulties is self-inflicted. I think it is time for the government to take necessary action on those hoarding petroleum product.
Though subsidy removal is going to be one of the tough decisions that will be taking by the new administration but at the end of it all it will be for our own good.
The new administration has started on a good note and it needs our full support. We should not start be creating unnecessary problem for the new administration.
I am optimistic that President Tinubu will perform more than expected. What he needs to succeed is the support of you and I.