joshuaFuel Subsidy removal: FG holds town hall meeting in Kogi, urges Nigerians to be patient with Tinubu’s administration
The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to be patient with the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as measures are in place to cushion the effects of fuel Subsidy removal.
The Head of Centre, Federal Information Centre, Lokoja Sabina Abalaka made the appeal on Wednesday at a town hall meeting on the enlightenment campaign of the renewed hope intervention programmes of the Federal Government with the theme; “sensitizing the citizenry on Federal Government intervention programs at the State and Local Government levels,
She pointed out that the Town Hall meeting is aimed at Sensitizing and creating awareness among the citizenry and critical stakeholders to the interventions being taken by the Federal Government to cushion the effects of the hardship being experienced by the people as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy.
Abalaka admitted that the removal of the subsidy has brought about excruciating hardship as a result of general rise in prices of goods and services and sharp decrease in purchasing power of the people.
Continuing, Abalaka said “As difficult as this decision is, it is imperative and unavoidable in order to prevent total collapse of the national economy. We are all aware that trillions of dollars have gone down the drain in the name of fuel subsidy and everybody, including local and International economic experts are in support of this awesome decision.
“The purpose of this meeting therefore is to inform you and create awareness on interventions embarked upon by the Federal Government to help cushion the effects of this hardship. It Is expected that this will be a continuous exercise that will be carried out to help inform and enlighten the citizenry on the efforts being made by the Federal Government.
“The Federal Government has assured us that this is a passing phase and that the pump price of petroleum products would eventually stabilize. The Vice President just few days ago likened our present pains, to that,
experienced by a woman under labour and that the joy after delivery naturally makes the woman forget the pains of the labour. May the pains we are facing now eventually give way to joy and happiness.
The resource person at the event who is a former Head of Centre, Federal Information Centre Lokoja Alh. Lawal Karim Shaibu highlighted some of the intervention strategy the Federal Government have adopted to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal.
He listed students loan initiative, investment in digital and creative exercise, the Compressed Natural Gas CNG initiative, Nigerian Youth Academy, (NIYA), National Youth Talent Export Programme, (NATEP) Local Government reform as some of the notable intervention by the Federal Government to cushion the hardship in the Country as a result of fuel subsidy removal.
Earlier in his remarks, the Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Alhaji Seidu Ademu Haruna who was represented by his Vice Comrade Ibrahim Obansa commended the Kogi State Government for their quick intervention in cushioning the effect fuel subsidy removal.
He appealed to the Federal Government to step up in it game to allow more people to participate more in agriculture and other intervention programmes in the Country.
The Kogi State NUJ Chairman said “Kogi State is strategically located in this Country. We want more Federal Government interventions. The Federal Government should make it less cumbersome for the Students to access this loans and more speedy so that people can access it. It is not everybody that knows how to read and write. When you say consumer credit, how many people understand this?
“They should be able to simplify this. On the whole, Kogi State is lucky that we have a Governor that is proactive to ensure things are done timely and accurately. Let the market Women carry this message to the people that the Government is working and are committed to allow their business grow”.
The Maigari of Lokoja HRH Ibrahim Gambo who was represented by the Mutawelli of Lokoja Alhaji Adamu Mohammed appreciated the State Government for creating an enabling environment for business to strive.
“When there is no peace, there is no way we can access this interventions. The government should ensure that this kind of gathering is stepped down at the Local Government level” he added.
The Kogi State Governor Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo who was represented at the occasion by his Special Adviser on Media Ismaila Isah disclosed that his administration has domesticated all the intervention of the Federal Government to cushion the hardship as a result of fuel subsidy removal in the Country.
According to him “Here in Kogi State, am very pleased to inform Nigerians that all of the programmes that is being implemented especially in the aftermath of the removal of fuel subsidy has been well taken of by the State Government.
“That is one of the reasons why his Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo when he campaigning made it clear that he will run a pro-people Government. A Government that listens to the demands and yearnings of the masses.
” He also planned to ensure that there is palliatives for the people. We have done three palliatives now. The last one for the year will be coming up within this ember months. There are a lot of initiative that is being tailored toward ensuring that, we align ourselves completely with the policies and programmes of Mr President in line with the renewed hope agenda of the Federal Government.
“All the areas that has been enumerated in terms of intervention from agriculture, infrastructure, health care, energy crisis, and how to go about ameliorating the crisis have been domesticated and adapted in Kogi State.
It was gathered that, the town hall meeting on the enlightenment campaign of the renewed hope intervention programmes of the Federal Government was organized by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
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