Nigerians are frustrated by poor management of fuel and cash swap crises

LAGOS – The response of the Federal Government, the operators of the oil sector, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and commercial banks to the national chaos has been criticized by some Nigerians who spoke to Sunday Independent after hearing about the harrowing experiences of citizens due to the ongoing fuel and currency swap crises.

A cleric and public affairs commentator named Dr. Francis Ujunwa Simeon, one of the observers, stated in his response that the Federal Government’s handling of the ongoing fuel shortage and the currency swap disruptions is a reflection of its failed status.

The primary goal of government, he continued, “shall be the secu­rity and welfare of the people,” according to the Nigerian Constitution.

Over time, the government has not been able to ensure that citizens’ lives and property are secure. Under the supervision of a president who is a retired general, kidnapping, banditry, insurgency, unidentified gunmen, and ritual killers are still commonplace all over the nation.

“The government hasn’t handled the fuel and currency swap services well, despite the fact that they are inextricably linked with the essential and existential welfare of the citizens.

“Therefore, the excruciating suffering and hunger in the land can only be compared to what exists during times of war. People lack access to their money for purchasing necessities like food and medicine.

“Only God knows the exact number of people who must have perished as a result of the financial crisis. The situation shows how ignorant, incapable, incapable, and irresponsible the government is in providing essential services.

“This abject failure shows that the APC, as a party, cannot be trusted to stay in power after failing in every endeavor. It has stopped marketing itself.
Theologian Professor Godwin Jireh responded, saying: “It is a sad commentary that an oil-producing country with such enormous capability and stupendous endowment as Nigeria is caught in the web of perpetual fuel scarcity.

“What’s worse, it’s ostensibly scandalous that the executive president of the Giant of Africa is serving as the Minister of Petroleum Resources while Nigerians waste money and time at gas stations looking for premium motor spirit (petrol), which has turned into a luxury and in-demand good.

Even the recent redesign of some Naira notes by the Central Bank of Nigeria, which typically should be a strategic monetary policy of the Federal Government, has turned out to be a pain in the flesh for many Nigerians, largely because of the poorly managed current currency swap.

The APC-led government should finally take drastic action to address this pressing issue before the current pockets of protest in some States spread across all of Nigeria and pose a threat to the conduct of the forthcoming presidential election, which is scheduled for about two weeks from now. This is because the common masses are having an incredibly difficult time trying to access the new notes.

The current fuel shortage and currency swap problem in our nation are due to leadership failure, according to public affairs analyst Dr. Kanayo Success Uchime. The government has failed the populace whose interests it is tasked with defending.

“No sane society could tolerate what we are seeing in Nigeria right now. It is unfortunate for the nation. Other countries now view Nigeria with amusement.

“The economy has been vandalized by the current APC administration. We are experiencing this in the country right now as a direct result of their appalling failure to manage the economy of the country.

“Nigerians are dissatisfied with how the government is handling the whole situation. The right strategies for navigating out of this challenging situation should be articulated by a government with focus and direction.

“This clearly demonstrates that our government lacks vision and direction. Our so-called leaders only care about themselves and not the people they are supposed to lead.

Chibuisi Nwosu, a chieftain of the Nigerian Brainbox Farmers’ Association, emphasized that wise, perceptive, and intelligent people would prefer to hold off on sharing their opinions on the perplexing state of our nationhood at the moment.

“On the current fuel shortage and currency swap disturbances in the nation, the last has still not been heard. We are carelessly speeding toward the edge of sanity, and even the blind and deaf can see it. All visible indicators show that riots, arson, and premeditated murder will mark these trying times unless they are cut short.

“I’m not embarrassed or afraid to respond negatively to this question. Given the shoddy, inconsistent, and haphazard manner in which the current national problems are being addressed—or, you could say, left unaddressed—no rational person would give the federal government in power a passing grade.

“Yes, the problems are being strategically avoided, otherwise why would rational people go undress­ing themselves inside banking halls to express their grievous frustrations?”

On his own, Julius Adegunna claimed that Buhari is to blame for leading an inconsistent and inept government and that both the fuel crisis and the cash swap disturbances are self- or government-imposed problems.

“The people see a clueless government and a lawless environment in place and they take advantage,” he said. How is it possible to be content with a directionless, confused leadership?