Niger Gov. Backs Removal Of Fuel Subsidy

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger says the removal of fuel subsidy, being planned by the Federal Government, is the best measure to regenerate the country’s ailing petroleum sector.

Aliyu made the remark in Minna on Tuesday when the Niger Traditional Council of Chiefs led by its Chairman, the Etsu of Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, paid him the traditional Sallah homage.

However, the governor suggested that the Federal Government should put some measures in place to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.

“Even if fuel subsidy is removed, what are those measures that should be put in place at local, state and federal government levels to cushion its effects? These are the issues we should be talking about.

“If you look at our refineries, all of them are not working, there are no investments on new ones.

“If our refineries are working, the talk of removal of subsidy will not arise because in the course of competition, there will be availability of oil and stability of price.

“We are saying that the removal of fuel subsidy should be looked into properly so that each state will have a refinery before subsidy is removed, so that our people will not suffer.”

Aliyu said that there was a cabal in the country enjoying the subsidy being paid by the federal government at the detriment of Nigerians.

“The people who are enjoying this subsidy do not want these refineries to work; look at the irony of the situation. Nigeria is number six among the countries selling crude oil and we continue to buy refined products.

“It is sad and embarrassing because these people enjoying the subsidy are not even the direct importers of fuel.”

The governor argued that most Nigerians were not benefiting from the subsidy, adding that the deregulation of the petroleum sector should be looked into with a view to finding a lasting solution to the problems bedevilling it.

He decried a situation where the NNPC does not have good statistics of the quantity of crude produced in the country and how much money accrues to the country after sales.

“The NNPC take out so much money after sales of crude before it goes into the federation account; the mainstay of our economy for now is the petroleum sector, if we don’t handle it well, our economy may collapse,” he said.

Aliyu stressed the need for Nigerians to understand the ongoing debate about the removal of fuel subsidy and not leave the debate to some mischief makers who have reduced the debate only to the problems associated with removal of fuel subsidy alone.