The Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN) has called on the Federal Government to put palliative measures in place immediately to cushion the effect of the increase in fuel subsidy, while it urges continued negotiation with the organised labour to further reduce the price of the commodity.

The private medical doctors in a statement issued by the association’s National President, Dr. Anthony Omolola, and made available to Sunday Tribune on Saturday, said they observed that the strike and protests embarked upon by Nigerians had thrown up certain challenges that could make life more difficult for Nigerians in the nearest future.

The AGPMPN said it “observed with great concern the crippling effects of the removal of fuel subsidy effected by the Federal Government of Nigeria on 1 January, 2012 on the Nigerian populace. More Nigerians are now poor, living on less than $2 US dollars per day.

“The removal of this subsidy will have health, economic and social consequences on Nigerians. There will be a high level of default in clinic and hospital attendance by many Nigerians, especially the downtrodden in the cities and rural areas, thereby leading to high incidence of communicable diseases, infant, child and maternal morbidity and mortality.

“Already, many companies have started relocating from Nigeria or dead because of high cost of doing business arising from infrastructural challenges. Also, artisans and other one-man businesses that earn their meagre earnings through the use of fuel will go comatose. This will worsen the already massive youth unemployment.”

The association, an affiliate of the Nigeria Medical Association (NMA), therefore, called on the government to immediately live up to its promises of making life better for the people.

“In view of the above and other reasons, we implore and appeal to the Federal government to put in place genuine palliative measures that will cushion and reduce the consequences of fuel subsidy removal, on the generality of the good people of Nigeria.

“We also implore government to continue dialoguing with the relevant stake holders, entrepreneurs, professional bodies and good people of Nigeria in a transparent and sincere manner that will make Nigerians have some level of belief and trust in government,” it said.