Christian Foundation for Social Justice and Equity, in conjunction with the United Action for Democracy [UAD] North Central Zone, has condemned in the strongest terms, the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.

The two human right groups, in a statement jointly signed by Mr Joseph Sangosanya and Jide Afolabie in Jos, described the subsidy removed on petroleum by the government as not only insensitive, ill thought out and absolutely unnecessary, but also provocative and inhuman.

According to the groups, given the fact that 80 per cent of Nigerians live below what is considered the poverty line, and 90 per cent live on less than $2 a day, an increase of this magnitude  would spell social and economic doom for the vast majority of Nigerians who are already overburdened by unemployment, poor infrastructure, high cost of living, unaffordable basic social services and dwindling livelihoods.

They reasoned that the cost of transport, goods and other services had already tripled in all states of the North Central Zone and elsewhere, adding that  transport fare from Jos to Abuja that used to be N1, 200, is now N2500.

“We and indeed, the generality of Nigerians are not convinced by government’s plea that the phantom huge revenue from on subsidy removal  (which is only an arithmetic jargon by the president) to be derived from increasing the price of petrol will be ploughed into building ‘critical infrastructure’ and creating ‘safety nets’ for poor Nigerians.

“Going by previous similar promises  by the same economic think tank (like the $1billion to be saved annually from Paris Club debt deal and channelled into critical infrastructure), it is clear that this government has neither the will nor the sincerity of purpose to pursue real transformative and poverty alleviating economic reforms” they said.