Re: Fuel marketers declare support for subsidy removal

OIL SUBSIDY: Adesanya-Davies applauds Oil Marketers over donation of buses to Oil subsidy removal

A Former female Presidential Candidate, Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, an activist and Public commentator in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and the Country President of United Nations Positive Livelihood Awards Centre (UNITED NATIOS-POLAC)
lauds and applauds Nigerian Major Oil Marketers as they donate about 100 50-seater buses, worth N10 billion, to support the government’s subsidy removal intervention, while she calls for the support of Organised Private sector as well.

Adesanya-Davies said, “We appreciate and celebrate the the pacesetting by the Oil marketers to alleviate the effect of oil subsidy removal on average Nigerians and assuredly believe without any further delay, the Organised Private sector will begin to emulate this great gesture demonstrated by the Oil marketers and follow suit.

A news report on June 7, 2023 by Temitope Hassan reports, “Oil marketers donate buses worth N10bn to Nigerian government over subsidy removal.” Some major oil marketers have announced their intention to donate 50 to 100, fifty-seater mass transit buses that will cost N10 billion to the Nigerian government over fuel subsidy removal. The marketers made this known in Abuja after a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu.

Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, stated this after leading marketers on a courtesy visit to the President at the State House in Abuja.
The President’s meeting with the oil marketers comes amid the controversy and protests trailing the removal of subsidy on Premium Motor Spirit known as petrol.

The President during his inaugural speech on May 29 at the Eagle Square in Abuja had announced the removal of subsidy payment on petrol. The President said that the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari did not make provisions for subsidy in the 2023 budget beyond June, therefore the oil subsidy is gone.

Many Nigerians had expected that the new price regime would come into effect by July 1 but almost immediately after the presidential pronouncement, queues resurfaced at filling stations across the country even as retail outlets hoard the product and increase prices.

Already, a litre of petrol is being sold at over N500 across the country following NNPC price adjustment and the presidential pronouncement on subsidy removal. Fuel queues have since surged for the vital commodity, compounding the traffic situation in parts of the country, even as transportation cost skyrocket to more than 100% increment.

The Organised Labour had resolved to embark on a nationwide strike beginning Wednesday but was restrained by a court order of Monday, June 5, 2023, thus subsequently shelved its planned strike after a meeting with the Federal Government late Monday.

However, addressing correspondents after the meeting with the marketers, Abiodun, who was a former chairman of the oil marketers association, stated that the marketers expressed solidarity with the President for removing the N4trn subsidy burden, a move that can enhance the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocation to states.

The group of marketers subsequently announced their intention to donate to 50 to 100, fifty-seater mass transit buses that would run on CNG, costing a N100m each and N10bn cumulatively, to cushion the effect of the removal within the next 30 days.

In a similar development,
Singer Joseph Akinwale aka Joeboy has rolled out three Danfo buses to offer Lagosians free transportation to and fro specific axis around the metropolitan city.
The contemporary R&B singer, who recently released his second album, ‘Body & Soul’, informed the move was his way of easing the pain of fare hike following the removal of fuel subsidy.

On his social media handles, the 26-year-old singer shared posters displaying the routes which the buses are expected to ply from 8am to 6pm for the next three days. He also shared a video of the buses with the drivers noting the initiative was all set for people to partake in and enjoy, sending love to everyone. “I know the fuel subsidy removal is hard on everyone right now so here’s my little way of helping, he wrote.

Amb Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies reinstated, “We are hoping and expecting other corporate bodies, organised private sector, and even other rich and well meaning Nigerians would begin to emulate the action of the Oil marketers by donating free busses for transportation in the country.”

The Nigeria’s new President Bola Tinubu has said the decision to remove the popular petrol subsidy would impose an extra burden on citizens but would free up money for education, regular power supply, transport infrastructure and healthcare at the long run.

Read more…

https://thenationonlineng.net/joeboy-donates-three-buses-for-free-lagos-ride/

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2023/6/12/fuel-subsidy-cut-will-save-nigeria-but-impose-burden-president