Cushion subsidy removal with palliatives, lawyer tells FG

Public affairs analyst and a lawyer, Sir Leonard Anyogo, has thrown his weight behind the removal of petroleum subsidy, describing the subsidy policy as a scam.

He, however, stressed that palliatives should be provided urgently to cushion the harsh effects of the removal on Nigerians. He told The Guardian in Calabar that the removal of fuel subsidy was long overdue because it only benefitted a few rich Nigerians.

Palliatives, according to him, should include effective and affordable public transport system that will mitigate the hardship the masses are already facing, following hike in cost of transportation.

He recalled that many attempts to remove the subsidy in the past failed, saying time is now to do so, as the country could no longer afford further failure or delay.

He observed that subsidy removal enjoys the support of informed and well-meaning Nigerians.

“It is on record that all the major presidential candidates in the last general elections agreed on subsidy removal and my own personal opinion is that, we need to do away with that scam called subsidy, now; the approach and the manner is the question. Subsidy benefits very few individuals, very few marketers and the cartel that has been on it.

“I have gone round the globe, basically what we have in terms of transportation infrastructures cannot sustain the populace. We do not have extensive transport system in Nigeria; those are the things government should be interested in.

“Then secondly, are our refineries working?  If we had been refining our products in Nigeria, the issue of subsidy would not have come up in the first place. Government refineries are moribund, they are not producing anything, we need to get these items right,” he said.