Aareonakakanfo of Yoruba land, Iba Gani Abiodun Ige Adams, on Thursday, added his voice to the growing concerns over the latest hike in the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, saying the situation is biting very hard on Nigerian citizens.
Adams’ reaction came as Nigerians continue reel under the excruciating pains inflicted on them by the sudden increase in the price of the petroleum products, insisting that Nigeria can no longer bear the hardship that has put the entire nation on its kneels.
Aare Gani Adams, in a statement, signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Aderemi, said the situation has added to the plights of ordinary Nigerians, saying Nigerians have never witnessed such increase in the nation’s history.
“This situation is becoming very unbearable. There is no country in the world like Nigeria, a major oil producer, that the citizens are groaning in pain over insensitive increase in the prices of fuel.
“We know how much we buy fuel before now. Nigerians are still struggling t0 survive the hardship inflicted by the subsidy removal which led to the sudden increase in the price of fuel from N187 to N500 per litre. It has once again been jerked up to N617 per litre within two months. It is painful. No sensitive government would be happy when the citizens are suffering.
“It has become imperative for me to speak up, especially,with what we are experiencing now in the country. As a product of this democratic struggle; a political activist and the father of the nation, President Bola Tinubu must know that the citizens are his children.Therefore, a father must work on the best way to solve the problem of the children.
“With the present situation in the country,three state governors have declared a three-day work free day for civil servants in their respective states. The national leadership of the College of Education Academic Staff Union (COEASU),had directed its members nationwide to attend their respective workplaces only two days in a week.
“The new directives was premised on the recent fuel price hike, and this has worsened the cost of transportation, food and other essential commodities increasing by over 300 percent. All over the world, many things have been subsidized in the interest of the masses. These include power, health, food and other necessities of life.
“Petrol has been the main commodity that moves the nations economy. And now the same product is being sold for N617 per litre. It is unbearable.
“For instance, an ordinary Nigerian worker travelling from Mainland to Island on a weekly basis would spend 25 litres of fuel per day-that is over N15,000 naira. In a week, it is N75,000 per week, and in a month, it amounts to over N300,000 naira in one month. That is too bad for Nigeria and Nigerians.
“Energy, including Petrol, Diesel and Gas need to be subsidized because for productivity’s sake.No economy survives high cost of energy. It is the responsibility of every government to subsidize food-that is what is called food security. When the government subsidizes energy that is energy security.
“Presently Germany has subsidized electricity, and it would cost 5 billion Euros,for its industrial output in 2023. What it means is that the government of Germany has taken up about 80 percent of the cost from industrialists and major manufacturers in the country.
“This is added to the fact that in Germany, government subsidizes food, energy, health and housing and they have an enduring welfare and social security scheme that caters to the needs of vulnerable and indigent citizens of the country.
“As at 2022, China has subsidized energy with 130 billion dollars. And also, over 100 billion dollars is being subsidized on energy in Britain.
“All over the world, governments are subsidizing energy to boost productivity. It is sad that presently people are losing their jobs, more businesses are collapsing,and companies are folding up and tension has been hightened in the country.
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