Cartel against subsidy removal frustrating FG’s efforts to improve economy, group claims

Following the withdrawal of fuel subsidy, the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) has accused the oil and gas cartel of obstructing its efforts to further educate the public about the various alternatives to petroleum motor spirit (PMS).

The same cartel, according to the organisation, allegedly went about telling individuals that the Federal Government would soon reinstate fuel subsidy.

Dr Mohammed Ibrahim, the Chairman of NGEP, insisted that the petrol alternative for vehicles had arrived and was here to stay in a speech he gave over the weekend in Lagos at the annual training capacity development of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA).

“The powerful sub­sidy cartel had frustrated every single aspect of our work. They tell people, ‘don’t mind them it would never happen. Govern­ment will never remove subsidy.’ That is exactly what they have been saying for three and half years until President Bola Tinu­bu did it on May 29,” he said.

“Even up till last week, some of them were still saying they might bring subsidy back. So, they have not given up. But government has to decide on what it wants to do. Our point is that we have to sustain the programme,” he added.

Ibrahim further asserted that 9,000 of Nigeria’s 10,000 filling stations met the requirements to become multi-fuel stations, allowing drivers to fill up with both petrol and autogas.

However, he urged the government to uphold its position and emphasised that doing so was necessary for everyone’s benefit.

Ibrahim said the organisation’s multi-fuel plan, which permits a filling station to sell goods other than fuel, was part of the NGEP programme.

Dele Olayinka

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