PANDEF asks FG not to shift ground on petrol subsidy removal

The Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed support for petrol subsidy removal.

According to NAN, Ken Robinson, national publicity secretary of PANDEF, spoke on Thursday at a virtual news conference.

TheCable had reported that queues for petrol resurfaced in parts of the country after President Bola Tinubu announced the cancellation of petrol subsidy in his inauguration speech on Monday.

Commenting on the issue, Robinson urged President Tinubu not to be swayed by sentiments but to immediately roll out palliatives to cushion the hardship which the removal might have on the people.

He said there was no need for a phased removal, noting that the subsidy regime was fraught with fraud.

“Fuel subsidy is a serious issue. It has been abused and there is an expression that extreme disease requires extreme cure,” Robinson said.

“Fuel subsidy is Nigeria’s economic disease that needs to be eradicated.

“We at PANDEF support the fuel subsidy removal. We advise the federal government not to shift ground or postpone its implementation.

“It will just be an evil day postponed because the subsidy is a draining pipe of the nation’s resources.

“We understand that the president’s statement during his inauguration that subsidy was gone was not timely, as it should have been announced at a later time after engaging the stakeholders.

“However, we urge the president to stand strong and maintain his position, but create situations that will cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.

“We know there are known things that will follow the removal. For instance, transport cost has risen, food prices will rise and government must immediately bring some initiatives to cushion the hardship.”

However, Robinson said the palliatives distribution should not be selective.

“Government should engage stakeholders to put in place palliatives, not the usual palliatives that used to be grossly selective in distribution,” he added.

“Government should look into sectional interventions; transportation is key and it will affect the prices of food. So the government needs to meet with the leadership of road transport workers to stabilise transportation costs.

“Mass transit buses have to come in to convey workers to and fro their places of work. The initiatives that will complement agriculture should also be looked into.”

He said subsidy removal was for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.

He advised the government to reactivate the non-functional ports across the country, especially in the southern part, to further stabilise pump prices of petroleum products.