A former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, on Thursday, urged the Federal Government to put an end to the ongoing fuel shortages and price hikes in the country, saying the avoidable long queues in the filling stations are unacceptable and no longer tolerable.
Gana said the unnecessary fuel scarcity has crippled the economy of the country while motorists and commuters are subjected to unforetold suffering across the country as a result of poor supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
The former information minister stated this in Akure, the Ondo State capital, during the anniversary of the Archbishop Vining College of Theology, Akure, where eminent personalities across sectors were honoured by the college, charged the Federal government to look for a way out of the present situation.
“We expect them to perform their duty because the fuel shortage is a serious problem and we know the government of the day should certainly do something decisively about the fuel crisis.
“And so, we direct them, request them and urge them on behalf of the people of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to do something urgently. It is not an appeal but the people of the nation is calling on the government to do something urgently,” he said
Gana also frowned over the current unnecessary hardship being faced by the citizenry in accessing the newly redesigned Naira notes in the country.
According to him, a lot of people across the country could not access the newly redesigned Naira notes despite the closeness to the deadline as stipulated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.
He, however, called for immediate extension of the due date in order to allow the people to access the newly redesigned Naira notes and nib the crisis in the bud.
He said “The issue of new Naira notes, people are going through very serious difficulties, this is not a joke, we are speaking from what we see on the field and therefore they should not ruin this economy
“Ordinary people cannot get access to the new notes and therefore we are very much in support for the extension of the date.
“This is very important, it is not for elite but for people living in thousands of area within the country and don’t have access and they are the economy and they should therefore listen to those people
The limits in terms of withdrawal, people are against the policy, especially, politicians on the field, there must be some logistics, moving around, it’s not a matter of buying votes or not.
“They are to move around and in doing this, they need funds and these elections must go on. Whoever that is trying to frustrate this election would fail”
He tasked President Muhammadu Buhari to do take the necessary action to ameliorate the suffering of the citizenry.
The erudite professor charged Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to endeavour to conduct free, fair and credible elections in February and March.
“The elections are coming and Nigerians expect a free, fair and credible election. The 2023 elections are scheduled to be one of the credible and best elections.
“We want to really thank the INEC for the hard work and technological innovation they have done they should make sure nobody convinces them to change the date of this election.
“The election must hold and we want every agencies within the security forces to please cooperate with INEC to give us free, fair and credible election.
“Nigerians are ready to vote and they will vote very well this time around. People have suffered and they are going to decide who will really lead the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Let the people speak and therefore we plead with INEC to do their very best”
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