​Societal Concerns caution over palliative measures.

Edited By Araba, Olawale Enifenilanfe

A major issue of concern to the average Nigerian today is the issue of petroleum products.

“The concern centers on two major points”: 

First, is the availability of the products while the second point of concern is the question of pricing.

It is a known fact that Nigeria's economy centers on petroleum because it is the major source of foreign exchange and also drives a lot of productive activities. This is why once anything touches the availability of petrol and diesel, the whole economy begins to shake.

Both workers and self-employed individuals are not able to move freely about.

Even schoolchildren are forced to stay at home or forced to through the nose to be able to move from one place to another.

Aside from these, machines and other heavy-duty vehicles which depend on the twin brothers of petrol and diesel are also severely affected.

It is for the above reasons that one must join a voice in the current discussion surrounding fuel and diesel in the country.

It is also why the position of President, Bola Tinubu on the issue of the removal of subsidy has become important.

The president should have come out to announce his strategies and alternative measure to ease the burden on subsidy remover before declaring “subsidy is gone.” 

The pump price currently is between 500 and 700 naira that’s over a 100% increase from what it used to be. This is too much for the average Nigerian to cope with.

A preferable way to ease the current burden faced by Nigerians is to live less expensive for them. It is therefore expected that the best way for the current government to begin is to implement policies that will make a life for the average Nigerian affordable.

 plans that will help the economy, should address or focus on improving the power supply in the country. This with being made possible if it can reduce the consumption price of PMS at home and work.

in other words, the government should address the public transportation system. Activities of unions selling tickets and extorting money from drivers at all times including odd hours need to be addressed. 

There would also be a need to create alternative free transportation for school students and revisit our federal mass transit system. 

These are corrective measures that can improve the economy thereby reducing the suffering of the masses.Societal Concerns is not against the removal of fuel subsidy, if this will save the economy and help development.

We are cautioning the government however to ensure that as it removes subsidies, the money saved should not go into private pockets. it should rather be used to provide social amenities for the masses.

Roads, mass transit systems, and other social welfare benefits should be made accessible to the people.

There will be a need to enhance the minimum wage to help the masses cope with the cost of living.

Government should also make sure that it controls the rate of inflation.