FUEL SUBSIDY, INFLATION AND NATIONAL SECURITY PRESS RELEASE BY THE EXECUTIVE SECRETARY OF CATHOLIC CARITAS FOUNDATION OF NIGERIA, ABUJA, FR. EVARISTUS BASSEY

We are alarmed at the fact that government is not intending either now or in the future to reduce the pump price of petrol. Whether government builds ten refineries in the nearest future and Nigeria’s refining capacity is increased beyond domestic demand, it is alarming that government is not intent on reducing the price of petrol, ostensibly because it wants prices to compete with neighbouring nations in order to avoid smuggling of the products across the borders. Instead of government initiating ways to man the borders and prosecuting fuel smugglers, government is intent on sustaining the hardship on Nigerians. This is terrible. This means that if those in neighbouring countries increase their pump prices beyond the present level, the Nigerian government will immediately increase the pump price of petrol again, in order to avoid smuggling. This is subversive, as government thinks only of economic value and not human value.

If it makes economic sense to remove the subsidy, this should be separated from fuel pump price; as it is quite possible to reduce the pump price of petrol while eliminating the corruption in the subsidy regime. The template that PPPRA has used to arrive at the pump price is suspect and must be reviewed. Till date government has abandoned its tank farms and preferred to rent private tank farms and adding this inefficiency to Nigerians. Government cannot keep giving the excuse of vandalisation of pipelines, as government has all it takes to patrol the pipelines even by helicopter. Government has been held captive by barons in the downstream sector and is transferring this fickleness to Nigerians. This is unacceptable. Fuel can cost less with or without subsidy and it must. Corruption in the down stream can be fought, as has happened in the Petroleum Equalization Fund where transactions are automated, paper less. The Jonathan government must convince Nigerians that it is not part of the corruption in the downstream sector.

Meanwhile we advise Mr. President to project more confidence in order to inspire millions of those who voted for him. If the president and Commander- in- chief sounds helpless in the face of security threats, how can he guarantee the protection of lives and properties of Nigerians ? The president should have included in his startling remarks a promise to fish out the fifth columnists and deal with them. Meanwhile in our considered opinion the security agencies should not separate the call for Christians to vacate the North from the quest for power in 2015, as there may be fear about voting outcomes with the presence of large numbers of non-indigenous populations in the north. As everyone becomes more security conscious, no one should be tempted to abandon the Gospel injunction of the Lord Jesus who taught about the unconditional love of everyone including the perceived enemy. Even the Prophet Mohammed(bless his soul) taught the tolerance of others.

We call on citizens to take more active interest in the budget processes of government in order to influence it, and engage the legislature more and more at all levels, for it is they that have the power of appropriation of the budget. As citizens we must keep up the ante until government brings down this contrived price.

Fr. Evaristus Bassey

Executive Secretary

CCFN

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