SUBSIDY REMOVAL: STAKEHOLDERS IN OIL AND GAS COMMENDS TINUBU
Stakeholders in the oil and gas industry have commended President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement on the removal of fuel subsidy.
They made the commendations in separate interviews with the Business Intelligence (TBI Africa) in Lagos on Monday after Tinubu’s inaugural speech as Nigeria’s President.
Mr Mike Osatuyi, the National Operations Controller, lndependent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said that the removal was a welcome development geared toward revamping the downstream sector of oil and gas industry.
Osatuyi said that Tinubu had promised to remove fuel subsidy right from the first day of his campaigning.
President Bola Tinubu, during his inaugural address, promised to end fuel subsidy, insisting that no budgetary allocation was made in the 2023 budget.
Tinubu promised to focus subsidy funds on infrastructural projects, education, and healthcare.
According to Osatuyi, the pronouncement is part of his campaign promises.
He said that Tinubu, during his campaign, had said that from day one of his administration that he would remove fuel subsidy.
“The money used on subsidy will be diverted to develop other sector.
“That means Tinubu has begun to fulfil his campaign promises,” he said.
The IPMAN boss said that the removal would bring about competition among players and also address the issue of monopoly.
Osatuyi said that the subsidy removal would lead to market liberalisation, availability of product, and check excesses of middlemen.
He, however, said that there would be an increase in the price of petroleum but added that there would be competition.
Osatuyi noted that the money saved from subsidy removal would be used to boost the economy and the well-being of Nigerians.
“I commended his effort and lauded the courage for taking the bull by the horn.
Also, Mr Tunji Oyebanji, Managing Director, 11 Plc, said that the pronouncement was a timely decision for the country.
Oyebanji, however, said it was not clear if the removal of fuel subsidy was with immediate effect.
“Scarce resources will be channelled to productive sectors of the economy.
“Borrowing levels will reduce significantly. It may possibly lead to the strength of the Naira,” he said.
Mr Obafemi Olawore, former Executive Secretary of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), who supported the subsidy removal, said there was need for the nation to move toward full deregulation.
“However, as a new admintration, it must be done in phases; over six to 12 months to give room for consultation and engagement so as to make it bearable and less painful.
Mr Joe Nwakwue, an oil and gas consultant and a former chairman, SPE Nigerian Council, said that President Tinubu was right when he said that petroleum subsidies are no longer sustainable.
Nwakwue said that considering the pain and social implications of removal, it would be irresponsible for any government to just yank it off without a plan.
“A multi-month plan that addresses key fuel market issues/challenges and measures to alleviate the pain needs to be crafted, adopted, and rolled out.
“A knee jerk removal would be painful to the consuming public and potentially catastrophic to the economy,” he said..
