Fix refineries, end hardship of Nigerians, CSNGO tells Tinubu
Civil Society and Non-Governmental Organisations (CSNGO) in Delta State has urged President Bola Tinubu to, as a matter of urgency, put an end to the suffering of Nigerians occasioned by the subsidy removal, saying: “The current hardship is killing us by the day.”
In a communiqué issued at the end of a critical stakeholders’ meeting held in Asaba, on Sunday, the CSNGO noted that Nigerians were going through difficult times owing to removal of petrol subsidy.
The organisation also called on the President to do the needful to ameliorate people’s hardship before the situation gets out of hands,
The communiqué, endorsed by leaders of CSNGO, Okezi Odugala and Toji Binitie, stressed the urgent need to fix Nigeria’s refineries and power supply, both of which are essential to getting the country out of the hydra-headed subsidy scam.
“The importance of stable electricity cannot be over-emphasised, as it will provide a broad-based succour to Nigerians. Local refining of petroleum products will bring the process of production closer to the people, while making the products more affordable. You don’t need an oracle to tell you that imported petroleum products will be far more expensive than the ones refined locally,” the communiqué said.
While lamenting the current development, the group said there is need for the Federal and Delta State government to liaise to fast track revamping of Warri Refinery since the President had agreed to make Port Harcourt refinery functional by December, this year.
“It is imperative that Warri Refinery be functional to support and boost supply of petroleum products, as well as create job opportunities for Deltans. This is even as Nigeria is the only member of Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) not refining its crude, but selling to other countries only to buy back the refined products. This is quite sad.”
The group also appealed to government at all levels to desist from giving freebies to Nigerians in the guise of providing palliative measures to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
It said: “The money earmarked for such palliatives should be challenged into more positive ventures that will affect Nigerians across board. The money should go into developing infrastructure that will enhance electricity supply, transportation, education, science and technology, health care delivery and others.”
