Use subsidy gains to revamp refineries, ex-IYC president urges Tinubu

Udengs Eradiri, the ex-president of the Ijaw Youth Council, has urged President Bola Tinubu to use the savings from the removal of fuel subsidies to revamp Nigeria's refineries and strengthen local government autonomy. Eradiri believes the current subsidy regime has not achieved its intended goal of providing relief to Nigerians and rejects Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reinstate fuel subsidies.

The former commissioner for Youth Development and Environment in Bayelsa State argued that the government should deploy the saved resources into projects that would directly reduce the cost of living and improve citizens' welfare. Eradiri emphasized that getting government-owned refineries operating at full capacity should be the immediate priority, as increased domestic fuel production would eventually lead to lower petrol prices and subsequently lower the cost of goods and services.

He also criticized state governors for hindering the progress of economic reforms, particularly their refusal to implement the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy. Eradiri proposed that local government elections should be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen the independence of councils and prevent governors from controlling elected council chairmen.

He urged the federal government to develop a framework for local governments to deploy funds on projects with a direct impact on the people, such as community roads and farm roads. Eradiri stated that allowing governors to control funds meant for local governments undermines the federal government's efforts to cushion the impact of its economic policies.