Former Federal Commissioner for Information and South-South leader, Chief Edwin Clark, on Friday, called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency on food due to widespread hunger and anger among Nigerians.
Speaking at his Asokoro residence in Abuja on Friday, Chief Clark emphasized the dire need for urgent action, stating, “The people are hungry.”
He spoke while receiving a delegation from the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), led by its president, High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi.
While acknowledging that President Tinubu should not be blamed for the removal of fuel subsidy, Chief Clark, who is also the leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF), advised the government to find practical solutions to alleviate poverty. He noted that the fuel subsidy removal was causing significant pain for Nigerians.
“Oil subsidy is a big problem in Nigeria. Oil subsidy is not confined to Nigeria alone, but everything in Nigeria does not work because of poor management and poor leadership. True, we all realize later that the oil subsidy was a scam”
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Chief Clark also shared his perspective on the history of oil subsidy in Nigeria, highlighting its challenges and previous attempts to remove it. He emphasized the need for effective management and leadership to address the country’s problems.
“That was why in 2012, during the administration of Jonathan, in January 2012, his government removed the oil subsidy.
“During the 2023 presidential campaign, all the major parties talked about removal of subsidies. But in 2020 and 2021, President Buhari, as well as the Minister of Finance, Ahmed, and the Minister of State Petroleum, Timipre Sylva, announced to Nigerians that there was no longer subsidy in Nigeria,” Chief Clark said.
“We are also calling on the Federal government to as a matter of urgency, compel the International oil companies operating in our Niger Delta to begin the sale of crude oil to Dangote Refinery and other local Refinery in Naira to reduce and possibly eliminate importation of finished petroleum products into Nigeria.
“With the Nigeria Refineries producing locally, the price of petrol will reduce, which will ultimately reduce inflation and hardship in the country so that prices of commodities and staple foods like Fufu, Rice, Garri ete can come down.”
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