So much have been said and written already about fuel subsidy there is hardly anything is new. There have been so much lies, assumptions(mostly wrong), warnings, assurances Im basically tired of listening.
Today, civil organizations begin what I believe is the first of a series of mass protest. How this will all pan out is difficult to predict however I am sure this is a now or never matter. This is basically the government’s last chance at full deregulation so I expect a grand stand.
In all of this people still need to survive. With the increase, prices are already reported to have doubled. Transportation cost have mostly tripled in some parts of Lagos. Some have even reported buying recharge cards that cost N1500 for N1550 as everyone tries to augment.
If and if subsidy does remain, how will people augment? Are there substitutes to fuel at the moment? For now it’s no!!! Nigerians depend on fuel for Power, Transportation which as it stands affects every form form livelihood. There are obviously no substitutes as public transportation is poor and inadequate, generators are expensive and can’t run on water, inverters need power (PHCN or Gen) and candles and lanterns just don’t work. People as usual are left to fend for themselves.
The only substitutes available to the people is the power that they have to change leadership in the country. It’s time people ask the president to go. He has presided over the most difficult and pessimistic environment Nigerians have seen since the war in just under one year of his election. Nigeria needs strong and visionary leadership. Right now we do not have one and must substitute one now.
