The Federal Government always present
fuel price hike as the solution to problems in the economy anytime they
want to increase the pump price of petrol. The history of fuel price
increase dates back to the Gowon administration in 1973 when it was
increased by 40% from six kobo to eight point four-five kobo (6 kobo -
8.45kobo), and this trend has been followed by subsequent
administrations till date. But in all the increases the Obasanjo
administration has been the most notorious. He was the first President
to increase by 70% in 1978 from nine kobo to fifteen point three kobo (9
kobo - 15.3kobo) as a Military Head of State and as civilian
President, he increased the pump price six times and had a cause to
revert it only once in 2000. Also the Abacha administration was not any
better with fuel price increase as he reduced the price twice but has
being the only President in the country to increase fuel price with over
362% hike in 1994 from three naira twenty-five kobo to fifteen naira
(#3.25kobo - #15), which resulted in a slight reduction two days after
severe Labour pressure to eleven naira (#11). But only one President has
made positive history with fuel price regime in the country. And that
is Late President Musa Yar-Adua, who after a month in office in June
2007 reduced the price of fuel from seventy -five naira to sixty-five
naira (#75 - #65). He maintained that price till he passed on while in
office in 2010. These increases have always had there toll on the
social-economic of Nigerians.
Before the Oil boom in the 70’s the
nation’s economy was largely dependent on revenue from the Agricultural
sector that brought about stability in the economy, with the Naira at
one point in history been more valuable than the dollar and pound.
Nigeria was a country people came to seek greener pastures and also
helping other nations boost their internal politics and economy.
Nigeria’s palm oil seedlings was adjudged the best at a time when
Malaysia came to Nigeria to collect oil palm seedlings, but today the
various agricultural edifices Nigeria was known for have all
disappeared. Is it the groundnut pyramid in the North, or the Cocoa and
Timber in the West that the region used in making the westerners the
most educated tribe in Nigeria or the oil palm seedlings in the East
that made transport business a main trade for the Easterners who
transported palm oil from the East to other parts of the country? Can
it be said that when oil was discovered in commercial quantity in
Olobiri River State, that Mother Earth knew that black crude would
result in massive exploitation, corruption and a tool to keep the nation
torn against herself? Or make the Niger-Delta region a trigger of the
gun waiting to explode due to continuous neglect of a people whose land
and rivers have been degraded but never enjoyed what their land produced
or a complete neglect of other sectors of the economy that has made our
economy a recurring decimal of failure?
When President Jonathan gave Nigerians
one of the worst New-year gifts that no President had given in the
history of this country on the 1st of January 2012 by increasing the
price of fuel with about 120%, he never expected the outcome of that
action. Nigeria became the center of attention with a massive protest
that led to what is now called the OCCUPY NIGERIA MOVEMENT. That action
showed the anger the masses had been groaning under for a long time,
with an administration that has only made Nigeria classed as a terrorist
nation due to the frequent deaths associated with the Boko Haram sect
in the North. Nigerians from across the country came out to the streets
of major cities refusing to accept a gift from their President at a time
the nation was in a festive period, and many families had made and
spent based on their budget only to realize that the New Year was going
to be a time to tighten their belt. The protest that greeted that fuel
hike led to the death of twenty Nigerians who were gunned down by
security operatives that were overwhelmed by a people, that they never
believe would revolt due to their constant siddon look stand and I go beta slogan.
The Presidency using the State owned
media as a puppet resorted to propaganda that the increase in price was
the only way for the nation not to go broke, and also reduce the grip of
the cabals who are unknown but in charge of the oil sector by importing
petroleum products that could not be properly accounted for. The
Presidency talked about a cushioning effect and palliative measures that
would be put in place, to reduce the burden of the removal of oil
subsidy since his administration could no longer pay for subsidy on
fuel. The promises made by the President since the recent increase in
the price of fuel is yet to be felt by the people. The major reason why
Nigerians always see the increase of fuel as a death sentence is because
the nation is powered by generator due to the epileptic state of the
power sector. In most cities and towns across the country seven in ten
homes has a generating set to provide electricity for their use. Anytime
there is an increase in the price of fuel everything and every sector
feel the brunt of the increase. The price of food, transportation and
most essential services also increase. What concerned Nigerians are
after is that, can there be an administration in this country that would
run a successful Government without resorting to fuel price increase?
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