When President Bola Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy on premium motor spirit (PMS) popularly known as petrol, as his first policy statement, many Nigerians believed such a step is long overdue. It was welcomed by the average Nigerians who believed the subsidy regime to be a ‘scam’.
It wasn’t a surprise that Nigerians and indeed stakeholders in the oil and gas sector supported the policy. Indeed, all the candidates of the major political parties during the campaign period echoed similar sentiments and promised to remove the subsidy on PMS. However, when the dust settled on the now famous statement of the PBAT in Eagle Square ” subsidy is gone “, prices of PMS has increased by more than 200% across the country.
Prices of goods and services skyrocketed. A 50kg of rice hitherto selling for between #30,000 to 34,000 across major markets in the country, now sells for above #50,000. A family size loaf of bread that sells for #900 pre subsidy removal has now settled for #1500, 6 months after subsidy removal . A bag of pure water has also increased from #150 to #300/bag. The 20 sachet per bag of pure water has reduced to 16 in some major towns in the country.
Perhaps one area this increase has affected most Nigerians is the mode of transportation. The average Nigerian car owner has seen the cost of fueling of car for basic needs more than quadrupled post subsidy removal.
Nigerians have now deviced ingenious ways to commute to and from work. Early, in the morning, people now abandon their cars at home and move in droves on leg to their work places. Our correspondent asked Mr. Abdullah (not real name) who has a Mercedes C class, why he is trekking to work in his cripsy well ironed clothes, he replied smiling ” my leg is now my benz, I trek kilometres to school while I was growing up. My work place is not far”. Mr. Benson (not real name) now takes all the children of the neighbours to school, pack the car in the school premises and walk to his work place. He walks back to the school and takes the children home after school. Mr. Benson and neighbours contribute to fuel the car every week.
Rush hours that are characterized by long traffic jam is fast becoming a thing of the past, all thanks to more people parking their cars at home and trekking long distances to work and business.
Bosun Ogunbiyi , a civil servant said he fills his car tank with #12,000 , but now fills same car with #39,000. “It doesn’t make sense taking my car everywhere again ” he told dpathtojannah.com.
A Don at the Obafemi Awolowo University also narrated his experience to our correspondent. He said ” moving around Ile-Ife Town at some period during the day, you may easily assume that a curfew had been declared due to the obvious reduction in human and vehicular traffic. Yet no curfew in town. It seems people only go out now only when there is need.”
Danladi, a notable trader at the popular oja tuntun in Ile-Ife says traffic jam has totally disappeared from the sabo axis of the Ilesha Ife express road immediately after the subsidy removal. He said to our correspondent ” before hold up here is everyday from morning till night, but now we only have people walking up and down with little vehicles”
When candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu thundered the now famous statement ” Emilokan (It’s my turn)” in Ogun State at the thick of the presidential campaign, many Nigerians aligned with his sentiments. BAT’S supporters believed his credentials towers above other leading candidates in the coming election. Indeed, BAT’S antecedents both in politics and leadership speaks for itself. The Emilokan mantra, resonated with Nigerians who believed that with BAT at the helms of affairs of the country, it’s the turn of Nigeria to shine. Six months down the line there are mixed feelings amongst Nigerians. Our correspondent engaged a middle aged man, Dr. Oladele at the popular Kuto garage in Abeokuta. He sat comfortably in front of a sienna bus conveying passengers to Ibadan. He said ” This is the first time in over 15 years that I am taking public transport. I come to Abeokuta twice a month from Ekiti, from #12,000, before the subsidy removal, I now spend about #40,000 for the trip to and fro. My salary can no longer accommodate the cost.” He further said, ” I believe firmly that the subsidy regime need to go, but the government will have to do more to mitigate this suffering of the masses. The inflation rate is hovering around 30% and the exchange rate is the worst the country has seen with a dollar about #1300. The economic hardship is real, my brother. Well, I voted for BAT because I know he can think outside the box. I can only hope his efforts will soon start bearing the desired fruits.” Across the park, our correspondent approached Mrs Fajobi, a petty trader to ask her view on how she commute herself to work since after the subsidy removal. She looked up , though with a wry smile and replied ” Enikanlomo”, which can be translated contextually as “Only the afflicted, understands the pain “.
