The Coalition of Northern Groups on Monday vowed to stage protests against the plan to withdraw fuel subsidy in 2022 by the Federal Government.
The group urged the Federal Government to rescind the anti-common man decision, which is counterproductive and a sure way to make the nation’s economic drift worsens.
This was made known in a statement issued and signed by the group’s Coordinator, Alhaji Yakubu Aliyu, and made available to journalists in Kano
The statement read in part, “The South-South chapter of the Coalition of Northern Groups views with disdain the plan by the Federal Government to effect an upward review of the nation’s already overpriced fuel.
“Should the Federal Government fail to heed our caveat, the group will not hesitate to join all serious protests that those, who are also bitterly opposed to the pump price increase, may embark on.
“More disturbing is the alleged twin simplistic policy to pay monthly a few millions of Nigerians N5,000 each to cushion the usual attendant harsh effects of the pump price increase, which is far less than what the predictable hyperinflation will engender.
“Against this grim background, our group hereby urges the Federal Government to rescind the anti-common man decision, which is counterproductive and a sure way to make the nation’s economic drift worsens.”
Malam Mele Kyari, Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, had in November said that subsidy would have been eliminated in 2020 but certain factors prevented it.
He said that the law provided that by the end of February 2022, the nation should be out of the subsidy regime.
Kyari who made known at the presentation of the World Bank Nigeria Development Update, November 2021 edition titled “Time for Business Unusual”.
“There will be no provision for it legally in our system, but I am also sure you will appreciate that government has a bigger social responsibility to cater for the ordinary and therefore engage in a process that will ensure that we exit in the most subtle and easy manner,” he had said.
