On Wednesday, a group affiliated with the Coalition of Northern Groups denounced the Federal Government’s intention to eliminate fuel subsidies, threatening to mobilize the whole population of the region to oppose it.
According to CNG, the government’s decision to raise the petrol pump price to N340 per litre has elicited mixed reactions from Nigerians and civil society organizations.
Speaking to journalists in Gombe at the conclusion of the group’s North East stakeholders meeting, the coalition’s North East coordinator, Ibrahim Mohammed, who was represented by the Taraba State coordinator, railed against the proposed hike in fuel prices.
He claims that the promise to replace the oil subsidy with a N5,000 stipend for each of Nigeria’s 40 million inhabitants is unworkable, as well as ill-intentioned, stating that “even if it is paid, it will benefit few Nigerians.”
Mohammed said, “The problems and sufferings in the North today without being compounded by a further hike in prices of essential commodities and mobility are traceable only to inept and insensitive leadership at the national and states level as well as the cowardice of other community and religious leaders who lack the courage to stand up to them in the interest of the people of the region and Nigeria.
“We resolved to join the move to sensitize all levels of northern society on their duty to support a prolonged and sustained resistance to force government to immediately rescind the implementation of this unpopular, corrupt and inhuman policy within the next four weeks or risk an unprecedented mass action and civil disobedience.”
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