President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government of Nigeria have been advised to immediately stop the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), and fully patronize Dangote Refinery until the nation’s four refineries are fixed and ready for production.
Delta State Orientation and Communications Bureau’s Chief Executive Officer, Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, PhD, gave the advice at the weekend.
He said that the ongoing national protest was rapidly attracting a negative image for Nigeria on the global stage.
He said Dangote Refinery in Lagos can refine and distribute fuel and other essential petroleum products to all the countries in Africa.
He added that the ongoing nationwide protest will continue to dwindle and stifle operations at the nation’s stock market, as well as reduce the inflow of Direct Foreign Investment (FDI) if not halted.
Dr Oghenesivbe urged President Tinubu to be proactive in dealing with issues of grave concern, especially the obvious acute hardship in Nigeria to avoid the global negative publicity being generated for Nigeria via the international media as a result of the national protest.
He posited that it was and still a gross disservice to the country, and her people for the Federal Government not to fully utilize the glaring economic advantages which Dangote Refinery offers on a silver platter at this critical moment of Nigeria’s fragile economy.
He further stated that if the Federal Government partners Dangote Refinery by supplying it with sufficient crude oil on a regular basis and payments in local currency, pump price of petrol will be reduced drastically, and billions of dollars spent on fuel importation, payment of remote or direct fuel subsidy, and import duties will be saved by government to strengthen the value of the Naira, reduce prices of foodstuffs, essential commodities and cost of transportation.
The Bureau Chief appealed to President Tinubu to immediately reverse his administration’s anti-people harsh economic policies, come out of his comfort zone to address protesting Nigerians who are dying slowly every passing day, as a result of the acute hunger, abject poverty, joblessness, and hopelessness occasioned by the negative effects of the wrong approach to national economic remodelling.
“It is economically retrogressive for the federal government to continue to spend billions of dollars of our national resources and taxpayers money through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, to import fuel after the commissioning of Dangote Refinery, the largest in Africa and Europe put together.
“Those behind fuel importation should have a rethink, and do the needful to save our country from total economic collapse. Our people deserve comfort, enjoyment of their nation’s resources and the commonwealth.
“Nigerians deserve painless economic remodeling strategies, not importation of poverty and hunger via fuel importation.
“The international community is watching Nigeria, a nation blessed by God, but grossly mismanaged by some unpatriotic leaders.
“What then shall it profit some men to gain the whole world, while their people die of hunger and abject poverty every day? It’s cheer greed and wickedness, period!
“Our national image is dwindling at the global stage, as a result of the national protest against bad governance staring us in the face 64 years after independence from our colonial masters. It’s shameful.
“Let’s stop this unprecedented greed, primitive accumulation of wealth, and disservice to our country, and the time is now.
“Let’s purge ourselves and work to build a great nation where good governance, economic growth, and prosperity thrive.
“And very quickly, Mr President should as a matter of national and public interest, reverse his anti-people harsh economic policies by abolishing importation of fuel, partner Dangote Refinery to strengthen the value of the Naira, solve the problem of insecurity, and save our country from the impending danger of food shortage, and total economic collapse.
“It’s time for President Tinubu to come out of his comfort zone to address the hungry, angry, and frustrated protesting Nigerians who have been subjected to unbearable hardship.
“If truly the same protesting Nigerians are the ones that voted Tinubu to be their President in 2023, he must of necessity treat them kindly and promptly by adopting their demands.
“And lastly, Mr President and members of the Federal Executive Council should immediately go back to the drawing board to plan and implement painless economic policies that would reduce the cost of governance, grow the nation’s economy, and ensure prosperity for Nigerians,” Oghenesivbe added.
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM TheWitness