Senator Sehu Sani says the new fuel price regime would come with a lot of social implications – Senator Melaye has threatened to mobilise Nigerians against the Buhari-led administration if it does not revert to the old pump price of petrol within seven days – Senator Abu Ibrahim who backed the new pump price regime says it may be a little difficult in the beginning but after some time things will be better The Senate is divided over the removal of fuel subsidy by the Buhari administration which has resulted in the new pump price of petrol rising from N87 to N145 per litre.
The Nation reports that some senators have sharply disagreed over the necessity for the new price regime on the ground that the policy will inflict hardship on the people.
Senator Shehu Sani representing Kaduna central told the Nation that the increase would come with a lot of social implications. He said: “I represent Kaduna Central Senatorial District and I am also from a long history of political movement. We are opposed to any policy that will inflict hardship on the people. We have been consistent over the years. The same oil that we are told is no longer being sold as it used to, why can’t it be made available to the people. “Increasing fuel price comes with a lot of social problems. If the price of petroleum goes up so also will be school fees, cost of foodstuff, medical bill and others. “Increasing fuel price incites social discontent. I cannot be in the street some two or three years ago opposing the increase in the price of petroleum products only for me to now justify it. I am opposed to it because I can see a lot of influence of capitalist world.
They wanted Naira devalued, they wanted the refineries sold. Now they are pushing for fuel price increase. “If we are going to address the problem, why can’t we wait until the refineries we’re going to build come on stream. Our bureaucrats are disconnected from the reality on the ground.” Senator Dino Melaye who also opposed the new price regime threatened to mobilise Nigerians against the Buhari-led administration if it does not revert to the old pump price of petrol within seven days. Melaye gave President Buhari 7-days to revert the fuel price to the old pump price or stand the risk of civil disobedience taking over Nigeria.
He reportedly asked John Oyegun, national chairman of the party, to advise Buhari to revoke the increment. However, the chairman Senate committee on police affairs, Senator Abu Ibrahim backed the new pump price of N145. He said: “Every Nigerian knows that fuel price increase will eventually come. Everybody knows that the country cannot continue to sustain a corrupt petroleum product regime. It may be a little difficult in the beginning but after some time things will be better.” He added: “Nigeria is still the cheapest when you look at the countries around us. We need to explain to Nigerians that the new policy is for the good of the country. To leave fuel price as it is may be populist but we have to accept the inevitable. I was opposed to fuel price increase before because I believed that the money will be squandered but now we have a government that can use the money for the benefit of Nigerians and in the best interest of the country. “I believe we have accepted the inevitable.
There is no subsidy in the budget; where are we going to get the money? Our subsidy was actually subsidising other countries. The countries around us are still paying higher prices including Ghana, Angola and Kenya. So I believe that it is rational, it is for the benefit of Nigerians and it is long overdue.” Meanwhile, the upper chamber has in reaction to the increment scheduled a meeting next week to debate the new fuel price. The Nation citing a source close to the leadership of the Senate reports that the scheduled meeting would afford senators the opportunity to tell their constituents where they stand on the issue.
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