Fuel Subsidy Removal: Gen. Abdulsalami Issues Strong Warning To Buhari Govt
General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd. ), a former Head of State, has warned that the proposed removal of fuel subsidies will harm Nigerians even more.
Abdulsalami spoke at the 19th Daily Trust Summit in Abuja on Thursday, stating that the country is already facing numerous challenges.
The Buhari administration has announced its intention to end fuel subsidy payments by June 2022.
Many stakeholders, including the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), believe the move is insensitive and untimely, given the citizens’ already dire circumstances.
“Unemployment or underemployment remain at record levels,” General Abdulsalami said, adding “and over 80 million Nigerians are still caught up in needless poverty.
“All of these tend to have negative effects on security.
“In fact, Nigeria now faces a food security crisis that is compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and the banditry in many States in Northern Nigeria.
“All of these have disrupted the fragile value chains across the country, and negatively impacted the ability of Nigerians to produce, process and distribute food.
“The result is a continued rise in the prices of food items, beyond the reach of many Nigerian families.
“On top of all these, fuel prices are expected to rise significantly in the coming months as announced last November by the NNPC.
“We all know when this happens, as the government has planned, it will push many millions deeper into poverty.”
