Some commercial motorcyclists otherwise known as Okada riders in Cameroon have expressed their displeasure over the removal of fuel subsidy by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Recall that the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol has skyrocketed to at least N500 after Tinubu said “fuel subsidy is gone,” in his inauguration speech on May 29, 2023.
Two days after, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) released a template to confirm the increase in pump price from N189 to N488 – N600.
Fuel subsidy is a form of government intervention to reduce the cost of fuel. It provided direct financial support to oil companies, so they can reduce the price of the product to consumers (Nigerians) to make it affordable for them.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest producers of crude oil and it relied heavily on dis resources for economic growth.
Tinubu while announcing the subsidy removal said its purpose had been defeated and it’s only being used to enrich the rich.
The president’s stance has been widely supported by marketers, economic analysts, and politicians including his opponents in the February 25 election – Peter Obi of the Labour Party and Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). Obi said; “fuel subsidy is an organised crime.”
While Nigerians have been trying to live with the reality of the effect of the subsidy removal, however, some neighbouring countries have protested against it and abused Tinubu over the development.
In a video sighted by our correspondent, some motorcyclists in Garoua, Cameroon expressed their dissatisfaction with a blend of Fulfulde and French, criticizing President Tinubu.
The video which has generated mixed reactions from Nigerians, also lends credence to claims of Nigeria’s subsidized fuel being stolen and taken to other countries where they are resold for more profit.
Petrol from Nigeria is reportedly regularly smuggled into neighboring countries including Cameroon, Ghana, Benin Republic, and as far as Sudan.
A report by BBC stated that the product is being sold for 700 CFA or 800 CFA in Benin Republic — up from a previous price of 450 CFA.
Smuggled petrol — popularly called kpayo – which means “unoriginal” in Goun, a native language – is cheaper than fuelling up at stations, according to local media reports.
See video below
https://twitter.com/IntelRegion/status/1666446331131330563?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1666446331131330563%7Ctwgr%5E35e7979dfbec23ce9418e0ce7f597607ab5d5723%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.intelregion.com%2Fnews%2Fdrama-as-okada-riders-in-cameroon-rain-curses-on-tinubu-for-removing-fuel-subsidy-video%2F
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