…By Lola Smith for TDPel Media. Former Kaduna lawmaker, Shehu Sani, has shared his perspective on the ongoing petroleum scarcity in the country.
This comes after President Bola Tinubu stated in his inaugural speech on May 29 that the nation can no longer sustain fuel subsidy.
Tinubu revealed that the outgoing administration did not allocate any funds for fuel subsidy in the 2023 budget.
He argued that the increasing costs of subsidy cannot be justified amidst dwindling resources, and instead, his government plans to redirect these funds towards investments in public infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation.
Long Queues and Price Hikes
Following Tinubu’s announcement, long queues have formed at filling stations across the country.
Petroleum marketers and operators have taken advantage of the situation by significantly increasing the pump price of petrol, ranging from N210 to N500 per litre.
In Lagos, the fuel pump price has risen by almost 100%, with residents now purchasing the product for N370 per litre, up from N180 per litre.
Similarly, in Niger state, fuel pump prices have surged to between N210 and N300 per litre.
Shehu Sani’s Reaction
Reacting to these developments on Twitter, Shehu Sani expressed his dismay, highlighting that the scarcity of fuel is a typical tactic employed following the removal of subsidy.
He characterized it as a form of blackmail used by those who benefit from the subsidy system, referring to them as “subsidy parasites.”
His comment suggests that the scarcity of fuel is often orchestrated to undermine efforts to eliminate the subsidy.
In summary, Shehu Sani, a former Kaduna lawmaker, has joined the conversation surrounding the petroleum scarcity in Nigeria.
He criticized the shortage of fuel as a familiar tactic employed to counter the removal of subsidy, asserting that it serves as a form of blackmail used by those who benefit from the subsidy system.