By Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani
President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the end of subsidy in Nigeria in his inauguration speech on May 29, 2023, at Eagle Square, emphasising that there is no provision for it in the 2023 appropriation. However, these have no doubt brought untold hardship to average Nigerians. Though experts agree that these, among others, are the sacrifices we must make for the country to move forward, I agree with the belief that subsidies can no longer justify their ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources.
Thus, the sum of N500 billion has been extracted from the supplementary budget of N819 billion for the provision of palliative care by the President. Even though it raised much concern among Nigerians, looking at how unpatriotic elements within misused or abused all palliative ranging from covid-19 etc., by the previous administration, sadly, no one was punished for the infraction.
Rail transportation is a viable option that, if considered, will often be a potential solution for reducing the untold hardship presently experienced by the populace. However, it has the potential to be more cost-effective and sustainable, considering current circumstances. It would indeed give more life to our road pavement; most trucks that too often damage our roads would be off the road.
Indeed, one of the main advantages of rail transportation is its ability to transport large numbers of passengers or goods in a single trip. Yet it also has a higher capacity compared to other modes of transportation. This efficiency can no doubt help reduce the present unfortunate hardship. It’s, however, among the intentions of the President to channel the resources to infrastructure in the country. Again, the cost of commodities will drastically reduce, especially in transporting perishable from one location to another.
The majority, or perhaps 90 per cent, of Nigerians, can’t even talk about saving when we’re all struggling desperately to survive in the face of merciless inflation that is, sadly, rapidly worsening every day. Inflation too often wipes off the little we earn to keep the wolf from the door. To me, hardship encourages corruption in all aspects. Perhaps the government is not aware of this precarious situation. Or maybe it looks the other way around. Indeed, this is not what we bargain with the government by entrusting it with our votes.
Therefore, I call on the government to do the needful in short-term and long-term solutions. At the same time, the short term should be mass subsidising urban and rural transportation by both the three tiers of government.
Tajuddeen Ahmad Tijjani writes from Galadima Mahmoud Street, Kasuwar-Kaji Azare, Bauchi State.