Effects Of PMS Subsidy

It is undebatable that subsidy removal on PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT will effectuate hardship to the Nigerian citizens. It will enkindle short term pains and linger on to produce long term gains. It will be a difficult road that will surely lead to the city of a better tomorrow. Like the journey of the shining gold, we must pass through this fire state in order to shine in majesty in the nearest future IF the subsidy money is wisely channeled towards profitable developments. It will cut costs and possibly free Nigeria from all forms of indebtedness.

PMS subsidy payment has been a retrogressive and myopic practice, which had relegated us to the wheelchairs of disabilities and shame. It is a straw in the hands of some PMS importers, who siezed it as an avenue to loot our national wealth, as many of them falsify numbers of imported PMS litres, while some import other products and have it certified as PMS Product. Some were even alleged of sailing to high Sea and fill their ships with Sea water and bring it to the shore to be certified as Premium Motor Spirit.

The height of corruption in PMS subsidy payments is unquantifiable. It is barbaric, abysmal, disgusting and senseless to continue such practice in a society where there is no adequate basic amenities, such as good hospitals, water and power supply, security of lives and properties, good roads, good leaning infrastructures, environment and materials among others.

We should not expect PMS importers, who are in the avaricious and insatiable game of looting our treasuries via PMS subsidy to play an arm folding game. Many agitations, oppositions and crisis would be bankrolled to resist the altruistic position of Mr. President, who is determined to play the role of a game changer for the betterment of Nigerians. It is frustrating to see many go through life without growing through life. Some individuals will ignorantly join the bankrolled crisis actors to resist what is meant for their own good. It is high time we stood by what is right and purge out every unproductive political party sentiment.

Over 10 billion dollars were spent on PMS subsidy alone in the year 2022. If you scale the true average yearly rate of PMS consumption in Nigeria, the subsidy payment will not exceed two billion dollars per annum. Where does the larger chunk of the payment go? We must stop being tools in the hands of rogues.

If we must subsidize anything, it should be agricultural products. Agricultural produce is what is being subsidized in developed nations, for when the stomach is full, to a very high degree, the brain thinks noble and brighter, void of criminal calculations. It is universally noted that hunger drives the wolf out of the wood.

The removal of PREMIUM MOTOR SPIRIT Subsidy will be a short term tragedy to common citizens, a stumbling block to criminal PMS importers and their cohorts in Government, and a rough road to paradise shall it be to the wise.

If we can have the PMS subsidy removed and go for a unified forex exchange rate, with a genuine fight against corruption, I spot the emergence of a new day, a new nation, a new people with positive feelings in new Zion.

AMB. EZEWELE CYRIL ABIONANOJIE is the author of the book, ‘The Enemy Called Corruption’; an award winner ‘Best Columnist Of The Year’, ‘Giant In Security Support’ among other local and international awards. He is the Founder/President of Peace Ambassadors Global.