N5 billion palliative: CSO, community leaders set Akwa Ibom govt agenda

The Chairman of the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network, CHRAN, Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, has advised the Akwa Ibom State government to channel the N5 billion released by the Federal Government into the procurement of Compressed Natural Gas, CNG, vehicles.

It also advised the government to subsidize transportation costs for civil servants, schoolchildren, and other residents.

Isong, who is also a member of Akwa Ibom State’s Palliatives Committee, stated that it would be the desire of the State’s Civil Society Organizations if the Governor used the funds to establish a fuel depot or refinery to help reduce the cost of petroleum products.

He noted that the astronomical cost of goods and services in the country was directly as a result of the removal of fuel subsidies, and that the only way to mitigate the effect was to have a working refinery immediately.

“I’m aware that the FG has approved N5 billion to all states of the federation as palliatives to alleviate the hardship caused by the removal of fuel subsidies,” he said. We have yet to be briefed at the committee level on how it will be used.

“However, CHRAN and CSOs are making far-reaching recommendations that, if implemented, would improve the lives of everyone.” We are looking beyond the distribution of grains and a pittance.

“We are looking at having a long-term palliative that would help impact the lives of everyone; we are harping on the government to have a fuel depot or refinery that would reduce the cost of petroleum products.”

“We are considering the government bringing CNG vehicles to subsidize transportation costs, as well as more vehicles to transport civil servants from the plaza or any other strategic location to the secretariat and schoolchildren, as well as building refineries and a depot.”

“We want to positively impact rural dwellers by building good roads, improving agriculture, and constructing ranches, not just share rice and money.”

“We want the herders/farmers conflict to end; we already have an anti-grazing law; we want the government to implement it by first having ranches where the cows will be taken, so that the cows do not destroy people’s farmlands.”

Sir Sunday Orie, the President of Non-Indigenes in Akwa Ibom State, described the N5 billion palliative as robbery on the masses.

Orie questioned why the Federal Government would continue to raise the price of petroleum products, resulting in an unimaginable rise in commodity prices, and then give state governors a paltry N5 billion to cushion the effect without addressing the root cause of the problem.

The Igbo leader in Akwa Ibom urged President Bola Tinubu to create an enabling environment, implement people-friendly policies, and address the volatile exchange rate as soon as possible in order for businesses to thrive.

“What is N5 billion for a state?” It’s still robbery if you rob Peter to pay Paul. Give us an enabling environment, give us a chance to make money; many people have parked their vehicles because they can’t afford the fuel.

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“Every day, you raise the price of gasoline and claim to be providing a palliative tomorrow.” There are people in the interior villages who cannot come to town to buy or sell their goods due to the high cost of transportation.

“If you give them N1500 as a palliative, will that cover their transportation, let alone their feeding?” So who is deceiving whom?

“The government should address the root cause of the hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing as soon as possible,” he advised.