Nigeria’s New Year gift
Jan 11th, 2012 by admin
The nationwide strike action organized by labour over disagreement with the Federal Government on the removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria continues. It is the second day and temperatures are rising. The questions on every one’s lips currently, are what is happening to Nigeria? How long will this continue? Will we ever get it right? These questions have been asked so many times that the question now, should be when are Nigerian’s going to do something about corrupt leaders who are ever glad to make the masses suffer. The President has said all will be in place to ensure that the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy is not felt. How is he going to do that, first 1600 buses have been imported so that people do not feel the hike in transportation. Ask me, what 1600 buses will do for a nation where majority of the population use the public transport. As the strike moves into a third day, there is no doubt that the economy and financial sector will suffer a huge set back. The fact is savings from the removal of fuel subsidy will increase reserves, help improve forex reserves, reduce pressure on the currency and improve our ability to contain inflation. Again no matter how beneficial the removal is, now is not the time. A always, there is no thought about the welfare of Nigerians and in all honesty now is not the time to announce a hike in petrol, with people just returning from the holiday season with little or nothing in their pockets. The timing of the announcement is an ill-fated way to begin the New Year. Besides, what would it have cost the government if the removal of Fuel subsidy were made public in April when probably a number of the measures to cushion the effect are in place?
The issues plaguing my country Nigeria, can be solved, there is a solution if policy makers are ready to come out clean. It has never been about how to solve the problems but effective policy implementation. The policy makers interestingly are only concerned about lining their pockets with our Naira notes. If the President’s palliatives in the 21st century are just about providing buses, jobs, provision of loans, erecting of infrastructure, etc including a cut in the wages of political office holders then he has no understanding of the Nigerian situation. It has always been about the Nigerian problems and the usual rhetoric’s of political office holders. Today, Mr. President should be talking intelligently about alleviating the suffering of the masses before attempting to play on the intelligence of Nigerians and the impact of the removal of fuel subsidy on the populace. How long will the masses continue to suffer while the rich continue to amass wealth? Let us tell the truth for once, how can a family who is barely able to afford three square meals a day, afford an increment in transportation? How can a family not able to send their children to school afford an increment in transportation? Those who are behind the increment do not understand the trauma this will cause. They sit in their offices and implement policies that will have no effect on them and their families. Have they recently used the public transportation? On the other hand, visited the markets lately, how about simply going round and sampling the opinion of any family living in the village, better still, families who have lost close relatives to the sudden emergence of Boko Haram.
There is a time for everything and the call for a revolution by a certain civil rights group is underrated and ill timed but the truth is Nigeria is not where it should be. The sad fact is our leaders act as if they are deaf and dumb to the desires of the masses. The people are speaking out and no one in the corridor of power is listening, the people are simply saying help us to bear this. I wonder why this is difficult for our leaders to understand. Preferably, what our President is saying is despite cost soaring, “we would ensure that the ministries cut cost and the salaries of politicians slashed” I wonder if this involves the bill for entertainment and food at the seat of power. Again, will this put food on the tables of many?
We voted for Mr. President because Nigerians thought it would get better, but wait a minute what is his godfather in politics saying. The former President Olusegun Obasanjo is very intelligent and known to have assisted him, in his rise to power. Is he allowing his political godson to take Nigerians back to the dark ages? After 50 years of political, economic, ethnic chaos, Nigerians ought not to be struggling to stay afloat.
Once upon a time Nigeria flowed with milk and honey, a time where foreigners rushed to make Nigeria their home. At some point, it was haven for Ghanaians, enmass they immigrated to Nigeria. The aftermath of this was a mass expulsion of Ghanaians from the country in February 1983 and 1985. Today, the story is different; Nigerians now send their children to schools in Ghana and invest there. Mr Aboagy, C.E.O of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre, disclosed that 17 registered Nigerian firms had invested about 1.5 billion dollars (about N330 billion) in Ghana’s economy. The figure excludes multinational companies that relocated from Nigeria to Ghana as well as Nigerians engaged in small and medium enterprises. What does say for a once buoyant economy? It is suddenly, a negative situation of alarming proportion. The many downs may derail the economy, God forbid but it is time to wake up. It is time we realise; we are destroying the future, the future of our children. There is a set time for good things to occur, a time ordained by God. Maybe, now is that time to act and change what has so greatly affected progress and development.
sad about pple in power. they do not understand our cuntry. there is no: security, power, good education, no employment oportunities, no agricultural sector improvement, no in improvement of health sector matas, no gud n rapid development of road, housin etc. .
By now it should be clear that all these textbook theories do not work in Nja. The benefits of fuel subsidy removal is increased foreign investment in the oil and gas sector which will force the prices . The removal of the subsidy will further give rise to these and as is obvious the govt is cannot do anything about these, how can the price of oil products reduce when it makes sence to export to other countries where good prices are got..
Our President has forgotten how he went without shoes we must go without shoes to pay for what he went through as a child. It is a shame how the retards have shamelessly looted Nigeria for too long. Our leaders are a disgrace to their children and grandchildren..
IF OUR PRESIDENTCANNOT FIGHT CORRUPTION AND FIGHT OUR CORRUPT LEADERS PLEASE LET HIM GIVE WAY FOR SOMEONE WHO CAN DO IT. NIGERIANS HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF LEADERS WITHOUT VISION FOR OUR FUTURE.
This is our leader and i am sure OBJ is happy, there is a puppet reviving his policies. Protesters go home, you all voted for him.
Nigeria should put all necessary palliatives on ground before removal of oil subsidy. how can the people expect April for the removal and all of a sudden we get a New Year gift saying otherewise. iT IS ABOUT TIME THE PEOPLE REACT TO LYING LEADERS.