According to the Campaign for Equal Rights and Opportunities for All Nigerians (CERON), Nigerians are living wretched lives as a result of the withdrawal of gasoline subsidies and the floating of the naira.
The group stated that in light of the nation’s growing poverty, the Federal Government has to reconsider its strategy, since it was clearly underestimated in terms of its impact on public welfare.
In a statement over the weekend, Mr. Francis Odiir, the Executive Secretary of CERON, noted that the strategy had severely damaged the government’s and the All Progressives Congress’s (APC) popularity ratings, and that it was time for the government to reevaluate it.
He stated that “anything to the contrary would certainly not go down well with the people” and that “governments all over the world are judged by their ability to make life meaningful through policies and programs that positively impact the people.”
He declared, “You cannot implement policies that cause Nigerians to become so impoverished that they are unable to provide for their families and then expect them to be satisfied with your administration.
The truth is that the removal of fuel subsidies and the floating of the Naira have left Nigerians living in abject poverty, and it is evident from the expressions on people’s faces that they are unhappy with the ruling party and government because they did not receive what was promised.
“The government should go back to the drawing board and reassess things because the West has subsidy regimes in place to rescue and safeguard people from market instability.
“The country has descended into terrible poverty, with citizens unable to feed or satisfy family obligations.
Our children are dropping out of school because their parents are unable to pay the necessary fees. People have turned to trekking since they are unable to afford petrol or transportation costs.
People have begun to consume meals that were previously only available to animals. To put it mildly, Nigerians have reached a breaking point.
In Essence
CERON’s call for the Federal Government to reconsider its policies on fuel subsidy removal and the floating of the naira reflects the widespread frustration and economic hardship that many Nigerians are currently facing.
These policies, while intended to stabilize the economy in the long term, have had immediate and severe consequences for the general populace, particularly the most vulnerable segments of society.
The withdrawal of fuel subsidies has led to a sharp rise in fuel prices, which in turn has increased transportation costs, the prices of goods and services, and overall living expenses.
Similarly, the floating of the naira has contributed to inflation and a significant decline in purchasing power, as the currency’s value has been highly unstable.
These economic shifts have had a cascading effect, with many Nigerians struggling to meet basic needs like feeding their families, paying for education, and covering transportation costs.
