There Are Better Measures To Mitigate Fuel Hike Instead of Railing Against It In Protest- Niger Delta Humanitarian Group

By Wilson  Vwerhoko 

The Leadership of Peace Development Security and Humanitarian Rights Association of Niger Deltans has unequivacally stated in  strong terms  that there are better measures that can yield  credible solution  to mitigate the much talk about  effects of fuel hike , subsidy removal or  deregulation   Policy of the down stream sector of the nation's petroleum lndustry in no distant  instead of railing against the deregulation policy with protests which may be counter productive at the end of the whole bragadaccio muted by numerous Groups particularly  the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties Parties, CNPP, the Nigeria Labour Congress  NLC, Trade Union Congress TUC, National Association of Nigerian Students,  NANS and other Civil Society Organisations .

The Niger Delta  Humanitarian Group canvassed the view that it is better to  jettison all the  planned    protest against the new pump price of petrol  (PMS )and electricity tariff  not to  shut down the nation as planned by some organised labour on    September 28 ,2020 or any other day for that matter in the overall interest of our nation. 

Comrade Mike JK Tiemo the Group President in a statement made available to Daily  lndependent Newspaper  stated that Deregulation of the Petroleum Industry particularly the down stream sector   was  long overdue to avoid an economic stifling   subsidy regime which he described as   a necessity in the light of prevailing circumstances even though it coincided with the Covid -19 Period.

Comrade Mike Tiemo the Group President explained in his  appeal message to  the various organisation in particular and Nigerians in general that   what we  need to do now  as a nation at  a cross road is forsight  to profer  solutions that will remedy the situation and the political will power to implement the collective decisions taken  instead of embarking on protest that will yield no viable solution or result. 

 According to Comrade Mike Tiemo , the Niger Delta Humanitarian Group , understand very  well    even as we appeal to Nigerians that the decision taken by the FG may appear draconian and anti people oriented  now, but if implemented transparently with the subsidy fall outs  judicously ploughed into the needed infrastructures we will come out  a stronger  nation and a happier people. 

Speaking further, he appreciated the government saying  :  " we have long advocated for deregulation but with the right approach.  Indeed the Federal Government tough decision taken over  subsidy removal will save and help Nigerians because what is  being paid for as subsidy   will now be  used for development  of Nigeria to address other vital  issues of national interest. 

Continuing he said : " As a body canvassing for the overall  development of Nigeria without any form of segregation or bias, we hereby  tasked CNPP, TUC, NANS and NLC and any other Group that may be muting the idea  to have a rethink, reconsider and suspend the intended action to shut down Nigeria in respect of  the current fuel hike etc  brouhaha. 

Comrade Mike Tiemo  in  his remark emphasised  that it is  indeed unnecessary to protest  but to profer solution to avert bad implementation of the Deregulation  policy.

 He therefore urged  CNPP, TUC, NANS and NLC  to collectively join  with the people of Niger Delta to focus the  attention of the Federal Government to direct the recovery -funds from  fuel subsidy to commence the immediate  establishment and investment on community based modular refineries in the Niger Delta as pronounced by Prof. Yemi Osinbajo the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to establish industries, companies and factories in all the Six (6) political zones that will promptly and quickly address the issues of unemployment, unscrupulous acts , insecurity, marginalization , underdevelopment to  avert poverty of Nigerians.

He recalled: " the N500b budgeted by the FG for subsidy  reserved for subsidy in the 2019 budget and the 1.5 trillion projected subsidy expenditure for  2020 will go a very long way in the take off of Community based Modular refineries in the Niger Delta.  " 

He further observed in his  address to  Nigerians saying : " The  good and great law abiding citizens of Nigeria, may I once again remind you all that   the  recommendations of community based modular refineries establishment in the  Niger Delta will urgently  tackle fuel hike in Nigeria and also export the refined products  to international markets.

Tiemo the Humanitarian Group boss   

 further observed in his appeal  address to  Nigerians saying :" the  subsidy  removal which we call fuel hike  now will yield so much dividends to the nation  in the long run  which cannot be quantified now  in a passing glance but will gradually be unveiled in  time to come as we move on with determination. 

He  added: "  l need to remind some  gullible Nigerians who easily forget history , that this was how the Nigerian Students NANS,  supported by some  Civil Society Groups Painted the NYSC Programme in a bad light apparently out of wrong allusions such as we have today over the deregulation Policy and  confronted the then Government of  General Yakubu Gowon rtd    in a nation wide Protest  against the NYSC programme  which they naively interpreted wrongly as a bad policy, .

 The unlucky students and some of their supporters of course  died protesting against a well intended NYSC idea, however,  the NYSC programme  had it's way and relevance  even up till today,  likewise we must understand that total deregulation is an idea whose time has come, according to Fidel Castro no Army no matter how strong can stop an idea whose time has come and  trying to  stop it will be tantamount to chasing shadows instead of the substance. 

Bishop  Godwin Pinawei the vice president of the Group in his comment stated that the FG should take the issue of Modular Refineries in Niger Delta so important without any further delay because it will eliminate illegal bunkering activities and save seized crude oil  by the  Nigeria Navy or Joint Task force instead of wasting the seized crude oil thereby polluting the Niger Delta environment and the aquatic organism   more and more

Comrade Durojaiye Ogunsemore and Comrade Sunny Anireto the Group PRO and Asst Publicity Secretary  in their separate speeches noted :  " we genuinely appeal and call on CNPP, TUC, NLC , NANS and all Nigerians as a matter of urgency to engage with some relevant bodies, at the three tiers of government , both local state and the federal government for a broad  consultative  forum in order to expedite  action to  kick start  the  modular refineries in the Niger Delta,  factories,  industries and companies  should be established  across all the six geo- political zones  for the  survival of our dear country Nigeria, instead of persistent agitations and protests creating vacuum of unnecessary tension in our nation.

They  reaffirmed  that the FG should stand firmly or enact a final stoppage of subsidy policy without going back irrespective any pressure. 

Comrade Lucky Ovigue Ohwahwa  the Group Secretary in his contributions asserted saying : " President Buhari should as a matter of urgency direct the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources , DPR and other relevant agencies of government to act promptly to establish at least 79 Modular Refineries in the Niger Delta that will refine our crude oil for

 adequate petroleum products for local consumption and to mitigate the fuel hike without much delay