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Nigeria, No Fuel, No Water...A fi ete s'ile a npalapalapa By Prince Charles Dickson Jos, Plateau Nigeria
In the last seven years I have lost count of how many times I have registered my displeasure at the way this government has handled the Petroleum sector, not that they have done any better in other sectors, but my disdain is in view of the fact that ordinarily this is supposed to be the nation's heritage, a blessing that we had no hand in getting. However we all seem to be of the opinion that in the recent past this blessing has become one of the nation's major problem. In the usual Nigerian attitude of rumor laced with
emotions, various reasons have been attributed to the
scarcity of the product but none is as constant as the
fact that leadership has failed...none is as true as
the fact that we have no reserve of the same commodity
of which we are sixth largest producer. Like it or not
we are massaging the ringworm and neglecting the
leprosy and the price is dear. I try to look at the
present scarcity from all the reasons adduced and none
makes any sense, really none. The refineries are not working...why nobody is speaking out, off course not that we do not know...The present bunch of failure has spent millions in turn around and turn back maintenance yet to no avail, after the monumental waste, we now choose to sell the same refineries out at chicken fees to some goons. Despite all the stories that have been told in the past by those concerned and despite the cries of the masses it just seems that we are destined for some kind of doom because of these gift...Somehow nobody is really talking of an increase not even by whisper and the question is how could when in Warri the commodity sells for as much as N240 per liter, that is when it is available, Nigerians are trekking miles to get to their homes, work. Food has increased as everything has to do with transportation, every trader tells you "you no see say fuel don increase..." The painful thing is that the rich, wicked and insensitive prides himself by driving around luxuriously and telling anyone that cares to know that he bought ten liters for ten million...Foolishness, one may say, but this is Nigeria and it all goes like anything. I was forced to ask a friend on phone what will happen if every Nigerian that is incapable of getting transport home, or to work decides to sit at home and protest...He said to me good but that with nearly three quarters of the population living on per day income of less than a hundred Naira, who really cares, we just have to endure. Right from the first fuel increase of this 'regime' in which all we did was make noise .The story has continued, the ordinary Nigerian bears the brunt. No one in authority has come out to say that we have failed. All the lectures we received on subsidies, deregulation, where went them, all the labour did was issue ultimatum, so not much. this government knows that power belongs to them not the people. Can someone explain in simple math's how we have earned more from the black gold and yet we suffer its lack and whether their leaders chop their money or not the region remains largely underdeveloped and the government cries no money...have our leaders not heard of forced development...? It was a shame watching on national television, communities stopping fire service and security agents access to a burning well...and we say all is well. The PDP flag bearer has kick started his campaign what is in the offing other than the so-called seven point dance, how are we going to tackle this problem for once. In seven years with all we earned it was just impossible for us to build a refinery, it was not possible for us get it right in that sector instead all we have succeeded is build a czar camp of oil thieves. And as I say in times like this, Nigerians are trekking not to loose weight, not for health reasons because we have experts running that sector. How much do we make a day from this thing called crude oil, how much do the Nigerian on the street ask for...just water, cooking fuel...what is power without peace, the basics of life, Nigerians are deceived, we are let loose on ourselves by the schemers, now we are fighting ourselves over census and secretly they enlarge their financial war chest through this fuel abracadabra. Obasanjo was hailed the messiah, he was called the 'man' but today what do we call him, how can we really mark a distinction between a dictator and a singing democrat...the same man that was at the helm of affairs during the first fuel increase in 1978, the first in twelve years, has supervised six more in his democratic facade, from N20 when he took over power to over a N100 today. We were told the deregulation would bring about competitive pricing, meaning price will fall but we know today that Nigerians are doing the same drill again, no different from another SAP Our crude oil has not translated to enhanced infrastructure, it has not given birth to good roads, social amenities or improved standard of living...rather its no fuel, no kerosene, no diesel, no aviation fuel. no water, and we produce an average of 2M barrels per day, and export close to 90% of that and smuggle the rest. I once said in a paper that fuel scarcity was a popular acting movie in this parts called Nigeria, with no stability in products supply, prices are increased and these increases do not stimulate the economy, nor the enhancement of employment. Most times I classify the Nigerian citizenry as naive when we expect much from a leadership that has constituted itself to an enemy of the people. It is in times like these that one asks what benefit is the debt relief when it has nothing positive on ground Sometimes ago it was one deputy Senate President led committee with the longest acronym that said it was preparing a palliative but it all ended as usual all noise and nothing. The excess crude has been shared by "them". I once asked if it was possible for a Doctor would leave his son on the surgical table to attend to a cat's bruise at the expense of an emergency surgery to his son...Animal love you say! Oil wells and streams have brought dollars, even at a loss the privatization exercise has brought owo, crude sales have brought plenty kwudo, and internal revenue has brought egoo, we have sold government houses, GSM licenses, the government has approved private sector/government partnership...in all these not for lack of faith but based on an empirical past we ask ..to whose benefit with no fuel, no water, no food, no life, all reforms with no human face. This government has earned money in all denominations yet we are a far cry from any picture of sanity. NNPC has no explanation, infact the laughable and bitter part is when we are told by the same people that there is no scarcity of the product Almighty Allah is this how we begin a new year, it is gloomy even as I hit press the NNPC says there is no light in the tunnel...we hail thee Nigeria....Almighty come to the rescue of the ordinary Nigerian...Let us tackle our leprosy and stop messaging the ringworm! Yours In The Service Of Nation...For the Good Of All And In High Regards...I Remain Prince Charles Dickson 234-0803 331 1301, 234-0805 715 2301 |