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

Former President of the Ijaw Youth Council, Udengs Eradiri, has urged President Bola Tinubu to use savings from fuel subsidy removal to revamp Nigeria's refineries and strengthen local government autonomy. Eradiri rejected former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to restore fuel subsidies, as he believes the aim of the subsidy regime was not achieved.

He argued that the government should deploy the saved resources to projects that would directly reduce the cost of living and improve citizens' welfare. Eradiri emphasized that increasing domestic fuel production would eventually lower petrol prices and benefit the common man. He also blamed state governors for hindering the progress of economic reforms, particularly by refusing to implement the Supreme Court judgment on local government autonomy.

Eradiri called for decisive steps from the Federal Government to ensure local governments function as an independent tier of government, with their allocations going directly to them. He proposed conducting local government elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission to strengthen their independence and prevent governors from controlling elected council chairmen.

Eradiri suggested that funds accruing to councils could be used to build community roads, farm roads, and other basic infrastructure to improve livelihoods at the grassroots. He expressed frustration that the President's efforts were being undermined by governors' incompetence and greed, as the resources injected into states were not reflected in the lives of citizens.