Pro-Tinubu demonstrators invade National Assembly justifying subsidy removal

On Thursday, protesters in favor of the gasoline removal generate some little commotion at the Mopol gate, the primary entry to the National Assembly.

The demonstrators stated that they went on the streets to support President Bola Tinubu in his stand against the elimination of fuel subsidies.

The removal of the ‘canker worm’ that has eaten deeply into the economy, in the opinion of the demonstrators, was a wise move by the president.

The current 2023 budget that the President hinted at does not include a fuel subsidy scheme, as he stated in his inaugural address on May 29.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited and other oil marketers increased the price of gasoline on Tuesday from approximately N537 per liter to N617–N630 per liter.

Concerns have been expressed about this development across the nation so far.

Sunday Attah, the convener of Stand Up Nigeria, responded to the petrol price increase by saying that the Tinubu-led administration had made the right decision and should be supported in achieving democracy’s benefits.

He said, “The announcement on the 29th May 2023, by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that the subsidy on fuel has been removed has come with mixed feelings.

“While some have hailed it as apt and timely others have expressed reservation that it may cause further hardship on the citizenry.

“You will recall that the President anchored the policy on the fact that there was no provision for subsidy payment in the 2023 budget hence cannot be sustained.”

Attah added, “Apart from that, the country was bleeding seriously through many leakages occasioned by corruption in high places chiefly among which are the claims on subsidy payments to many firms.

“After observing the initial reaction to the measure and the attendant panic buying and other impacts on the socio-economic life of Nigerians, we wish to state that the President has done the right thing by removing the subsidy as the advantages of doing so outweigh the disadvantages.

“We have observed that the initial hiccups of long queues at the fuel stations have disappeared while access to petroleum products has become easier and guaranteed as people can now drive into filling stations and refill their tanks without wasting unnecessary man hours on queues.”

Attah cited the fact that the issue of gasoline scarcity and the difficulty it caused citizens as justification for eliminating the subsidy. As a result, individuals may now use their time for other beneficial activities.

The Pro-Tinubu protest convener added, “The opposition and those elements opposed to the measure should know that election is over and all hands must be on deck to support the government to do what is right and in the interest of the people of the country.

“Past administrations have attempted to remove fuel subsidies but have not been successful due to opposition on the wrong belief that the implication of subsidy removal is just the increase in the price of fuel.

“There was also the suspicion that the proceeds made from the removal will be embezzled and the gains will not get to the intended beneficiaries.”

Attah added, “But President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has shown that he has the integrity to use the funds for the development of the country and has announced a number of palliatives to cushion the effects of the increase in the price of fuel.

“We believe other measures would follow that will make Nigerians willing to see the increase in the price of petroleum products as a necessary sacrifice for growing the economy.”

“By the time the monies freed from subsidy removal are appropriated and plowed back into the economy and all sectors begin to witness quantum growth, Nigerians would begin to see the positive effects of subsidy removal,” he said.