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Jonathan to Nigerians: Please support fuel subsidy removal
Nigeria President., Goodluck Jonathan. PHOTO/File
(Reuters) – President Goodluck Jonathan pleaded with Nigerians on Saturday to support the removal of fuel subsidies and pledged to cut government salaries, in an effort to prevent a nationwide strike planned for Monday.
Nigeria’s fuel regulator announced on January 1 the end of the subsidy as part of efforts to cut government spending and weed out corruption in the downstream oil industry, which it hopes will encourage more foreign investment in local refining.
Gasoline prices have more than doubled to around 150 naira (US$ 0.93) per litre and protests have erupted across the nation.
Trade unions have said they will begin an indefinite general strike from Monday, including workers in Africa’s largest energy sector. Industry sources do not expect strikes to significantly affect crude exports.
“If I were in your shoes at this moment, I probably would have reacted in the same manner as some of our compatriots, or hold the same critical views about government,” Jonathan said in a statement, his first official comment on subsidies since the policy was announced.
“The deregulation of the petroleum sector is a necessary step that we had to take. I want to assure every Nigerian that whatever pain you may feel at the moment will be temporary.”
Nigeria produces more than 2 million barrels per day of crude oil but almost all of this is shipped to the United States, Europe and Asia.
