Residents of Adamawa state appeal for palliatives to cushion effect of fuel subsidy removal
By Gloria Abutu
Residents of Adamawa state have called on government both at federal and state levels to provide palliatives to cushion the effects of the removal of fuel subsidy on citizens.
They made the call while speaking to Radio Nigeria on the impact of the subsidy removal on their livelihoods.
Some public servants, Baba Valindi and Atonmah Geoffrey noted that the removal of petrol subsidy has affected their movement as transportation fare has doubled since the new policy began.
“The subsidy has brought about increase in cost of transportation. Distance of N50 naira is about N100” Valindi noted.
Geoffrey said, “Transport has almost tripled, movement from Yola town to Jimeta was N100 before, now it’s N300 and this has affected my job”.
Other workers, Lawrence Onime and John Arinola said in view of the current economic reality, they have had to cut down on some expenses as they could no longer afford a comfortable lifestyle.
According to Onime, “Right now, Nigerians are really feeling the pains because it is biting very hard. These days, i hardly use my car. You think twice before using your car, before starting your generator, or anything that has to do with fuel, you walk for some distance before taking a bike to reduce cost”.
“These days, when you go to the market, prices of everything has gone up. I cut off unnecessary trips, I stay at home to make phone calls instead. I weigh up my scale of preference and do things that are needed at a particular time”, Arinola said.
On her part, a business woman, Tata Evon lamented low patronage, saying her customers have stopped purchasing luxury goods, and only buy basic necessities.
Other residents noted that the policy has led to an astronomical rise in prices of commodities, which according to them, has increased their cost of living.
They called on government to ensure the running of the nation’s refineries, create jobs, increase workers’ salaries as well as provide palliatives that will ameliorate the hardship occasioned by the removal of fuel subsidy.
