Experts Urge Nigerian Govt To Remove Fuel Subsidy, Deregulate Oil Sector
The need for the federal government to take steps towards deregulation the oil and gas industry as well as end the controversial fuel subsidy resonated yesterday at the Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
They also commended the National Assembly for passing the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) and advised the federal government to reconsider its passage.
Managing Director of Oando Plc, Mr. Wale Tinubu, declared that Nigeria spent $5 billion on fuel subsidy last year.
The sum, he said represented funds that could have been used to finance other critical infrastructure needed by vast majority of the populace. Therefore, he advocated that all stakeholders must support the deregulation of the oil and gas sector to engender growth.
Speaking at the conference, Tinubu said stakeholders in the petroleum industry should rise up and discourage the practice.
According to him, other critical sectors of the economy, such as education and health among others, were in need of funding, adding that such amount expended on subsidy should have been directed to other critical sectors or towards infrastructure development.
“The government has chosen to effectively subsidise the price as a social palliative. Not that I support it, but we spent $5 billion last year on subsidy, which was even more than what we spent on education and housing combined.
“At a population growth rate of three per cent, the question is what is the best – to invest in infrastructure or consumption? There is a bug debate that has to be made around this and as stakeholders we absolutely need to champion that debate with the federal government.
“The politicians want this to continue at all cost, but there is long-term damage we are doing to our country and industry. “We need to ensure that this subsidies are altered and the downstream sector needs to be commercialised, the refineries need to function and the pipelines need to function. There is no logic in is transporting our products by the road which is extremely expensive.”
READ ALSO! Nigerian Central Bank Approves Disbursement Of Loans For Creative Industries At 9%
READ ALSO! Tony Elumelu To Empower 1,000 Northern Entrepreneurs With $5000 Each
READ ALSO! How To Empower Yourself And Generate Income From Mutual Funds
READ ALSO! Is N-Power Truly Empowering Nigerian Youths?
READ ALSO! How Nigerian Govt Can Lift 100million People Out Of Poverty — Tony Elumelu
READ ALSO! TraderMoni: Poverty Alleviation Or Political Leverage?
READ ALSO! Is N-Power Truly Empowering Nigerian Youths?
READ ALSO! Gtbank 737 Disservice: How to Kick Your Customers in the Butt!
READ ALSO! Why The North Remains Headquarters Of Poverty In Nigeria — Kingsley Moghalu
READ ALSO! The Love Of Your Life Is An Illusion: It Doesn’t Exist Anywhere!
READ ALSO! Nigerian Central Bank Approves Disbursement Of Loans For Creative Industries At 9%
READ ALSO! Tony Elumelu To Empower 1,000 Northern Entrepreneurs With $5000 Each
READ ALSO! How To Empower Yourself And Generate Income From Mutual Funds
READ ALSO! Is N-Power Truly Empowering Nigerian Youths?
READ ALSO! How Nigerian Govt Can Lift 100million People Out Of Poverty — Tony Elumelu
READ ALSO! TraderMoni: Poverty Alleviation Or Political Leverage?
READ ALSO! Is N-Power Truly Empowering Nigerian Youths?
READ ALSO! Gtbank 737 Disservice: How to Kick Your Customers in the Butt!
READ ALSO! Why The North Remains Headquarters Of Poverty In Nigeria — Kingsley Moghalu
READ ALSO! The Love Of Your Life Is An Illusion: It Doesn’t Exist Anywhere!