Former National President, Youth Wing of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) and Chairman City Gate Elders Nigeria, Dr Dele Oluwatade, has called on the Federal Government to remove the controversial fuel subsidy to create enabling environment for competitive sale and distribution of petroleum products and avoid local monopoly.
Oluwatade, made the remarks in Benin City, in a statement he endorsed and made available to newsmen.
He said, if the government removes fuel subsidy and Nigerians pay for the petroleum products they consume ( Pay As You Consume ,PAYCOM), it will reduce the corruption going on in the sector, as diverted petroleum products will no longer be paid for by the Nigerian Government.
“Nigerian Government should remove subsidy on fuel and other petroleum products being subsided.
“Let the consumers pay the actual amount, when consumers pay, the retail outlets refund the subsidy after sales.
“This situation where Nigerian government is paying for fuel imported to this country is like Nigeria paying for subsidy for other neighboring countries.
“If petroleum subsidy is removed and the consumer of petroleum products pay for what they consume, then at the end of the day, there will be competition in the market and the products will find its natural cost.
“Nobody should be harassed that it will cost #800 per liter.
“This situation of using Nigeria as port to distribute the already subsided products is like robbing Nigeria to pay neighbors but, if one pays for what he consumes, those importing 50million liters to collect subsidy for 50million liters, while only 30 million liters is being consumed by Nigeria will be disappointed.
“Others seat in their offices to compute, then say Nigeria consumes so so quantity of petrol, while the products goes to neighboring countries.
