Fuel Subsidy Removal - My take.

What is Subsidy?
A subsidy is a sum of money granted by the government or a public body to assist an industry or business so that the price of a commodity or service may remain low or competitive. Therefore,fuel subsidy is meant to make fuel prices relatively cheap and affordable. Now, I ask you,is that the case with fuel in Nigeria???
You see,I like being blunt and realistic with the truth and not emotional.We all know what had happened to fuel prices in the international markets...fuel prices are in their all time low,hence,subsidizing have started to look foolish indeed.You and I also know that the international market changes in oils prices has no effect on the economy...as in,there's no difference in the way things are whether oil prices increased or reduced.Nigeria's oil prices is very independent of the international markets.So,it's hard to say whether there's a subsidy in the first place!
Another point that's worth discussing is the mechanism of the subsidy in Nigeria considering the corrupt nature of anything government and past events,especially in the oil sector in Nigeria.Let's check it out!

A little Historical Background
From my findings,subsidy has a long history...it began way back from 1978 during Gen Obasanjo's Military regime! Below is a showdown of supposed subsidy removals over the years.
1978, 15kobo per litre
1990, 60kobo per litre
1992, 70kobo per litre
1993, N3.25kobo and N11 per litre
And from 1994 to 1998 the official pump price hovered around N11.0k per liter – these happened during the military era of Nigeria's 'perceived' most horrific tyrannic dictator,Gen. Sanni Abacha.Remember that these same years of the General was the era of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF).The PTF was charged with the execution of capital projects from cash saved from the oil sector .We all know how effective and beneficial the PTF was during that time...it was so,so,so, beneficial.
After the demise of General Abacha came the times of General Abdussalaam who handed over to a democratically elected government of General Obasanjo.The rise in price continued to the disappointment of Nigerians.
N11 - N20 - N22  in the year 2000
N22 - N26  in 2001
N26 - N40 in 2003
As may have observed,all this happened during the years of General Obasanjo,who later further jerked up pump price to N65 and finally to N100/ litre just before making his exit.
Late President Yar'adua was nice enough to bring the pump price back to just N65 a price that was maintained till his death. However, with Oga Jonathan,the journey continues,on New year eve,very few Nigerians could possibly forget that year's first Presidential speech.President Jonatrhan greeted Nigerians with an increase in pump price presenting the same old story of fuel subsidy removal as an excuse. It got to a point,we were told to get ready to pay up to N144 per litre!
Fuel subsidy,independent marketers and the OIL CABALS were the talks we hear day in,day out in Nigeria during President Jonathan's administration.Now,we are in General Muhammadu Buhari's regime and fuel subsidy removal is now making rounds again along with the characteristic fuel scarcity and black markets.Bros,for how long are we going to continue like this?

Fuel Subsidy Protests
Just today I read in the news that oil workers are planning to stage a protest against the proposed fuel subsidy of the Federal Government.Sometimes I wonder if staging of protests has not been abused long enough.Every now and then,people would come out and say they are protesting one thing or the other...I tire o! 

Anyway out?
I know that most Nigerians are wary and tired of the fuel saga.Nigerians are tired of the fuel subsidy talks...it has going on for far too long. Now, the question now arises...what's the way forward???
This shall be the point of continuation tomorrow,God's Grace...see you tomorrow! 

Happy Birthday Mr. President!

 I'm sorry sir,this is coming a little bit later than it should.But, it's better later than never,I believe.I want to seize this opportunity to wish you,your excellency,Mr President a happy birthday and many happy returns of the day with long life and prosperity.

Sir,you were born exactly 73 years and a day today and destined to lead this country to glory.I do hope and pray that your second coming to National leadership would be much more successful and memorable than the first.Ameen.
During your first tenure,we (Nigerians) didn't understand your mission then,so,we connived with haters and kicked you and your equally highly disciplined friend,Late General Tunde Idiagbon out of office thinking you guys were going crazy with the iron fist with which you managed our affairs...then,what we had was an already very decay and corrupt Nigeria,so,there was no way we could understand the language of discipline and accountability you and Idiagbon were speak so loud.We were caught flat footed and very frightened with the bluntness of your regime.We didn't understand...oh...we didn't understand that it was for the best...the very best!But now,we know better!
Thank God,we now know much better,though we had to learn this the hard way,the good news now,is that we now know better!We now know that nothing good comes easy,we now know that as citizens,we must be ready to pay the price for greatness!If we must progress and live a prosperous rich life as it befits the children of our fathers,we now know that we must first of all endure hardships and work hard enough for the better tomorrow we all yearn for!
We are no longer interested in being  handed free undeserved money for little nothing or for bending corners.We are tired of bending corners!We have all realized that bending corners leads to nothing but a pit fall a kind from which we are still struggling so hard to get out of,hence,we worked hand in hand with a very few patriotic elites up the political ladder to bring you back in as our No. 1,our leader and passionate civil servant to once again set us up on the path of glory!
We are indeed very grateful to God Almighty for giving us a second chance by crowning our efforts of bringing you to power with a resounding success!Already,we have started experiencing the POSITIVE CHANGE we voted for!
Kerosene has been officially brought down to N50 and it's equally available at that price,Boko Haram can no longer fumble of an ordinary audio release (not to mention videos) of their terrifying messages as they continue to loose ground by the day,criminals,WILLING FULLY submit their ill-gotten wealth even before being accused of theft,our skyrocketing exchange rate against the Dollar gradually coming down and stabilizing..all these are happening and it's just being 7 months you assumed office!
Yes!There have been a coupled of hitches,but,we all know,even your haters know that they were part of the problem you inherited.Considering the way you have being handling them,we,Nigerians are confident that you and your host of ministers would do us all proud.
A friend of mine complained even to the point of protesting by not joining me to wish you a happy birthday of the extra-judicial killings of Shiite Muslims up North.But,I know,he's only being emotional about the deaths of so many in the hands of our soldiers.I can assure you,he has no grudge against you.I would want to use this opportunity to appeal to you that the unfortunate saga should be probed and the erring among the soldiers involved be brought to book.So many protests have been staged worldwide condemning the incident,therefore,it should be handled properly so that we may not loose face in the international community.
I got so much to say on my mind,the problem is the time and space to express them all.I shall stop right here now as I join the millions of PATRIOTIC NIGERIANS to wish you a happy birthday!
Long live our President,
Long live Nigerians,
long live Nigeria!!!