Nigeria is expected to bring down the curtain on the President Muhammadu Buhari reign in the country with a very low-key farewell which is sharply in contrast to the way he was celebrated when assuming office.
That’s perhaps for a very good reason considering the much affection Nigerians have shown him which he failed to reciprocate. In fact, that ‘divine love’ has metamorphosed into resentment and animosity.
With the commercialisation of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, now a limited liability company, Buhari has left Nigerians a parting gift, which is in a hindsight saying, vote someone economically sound like former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
Although, some pro-Buharists will argue with all vigour that ‘commercialisation’ is different from ‘privatisation’, agreed! But it’s just like picking up one end of a stick, and by so doing, you’ve invariably picked up the other end.
The ultimate goal of any business entity is the maximisation of profit at a minimal cost. However, before the law, NNPC has consistently been operated as a loss-making venture, and the government ensures consistent running every year.
As such, the oil moguls could take a big advantage of people in a loose such as ours. The ultimate destination is the price that matches the highest in Africa. Call that about N700 per litre. Are we ready?
So, what’s the best way forward?
By and large, we could say that Nigeria hasn’t had a very good experience of associating our assets with “Aljanun Kasuwa” and so there’s a strong need for caution as we try to tackle this very flammable product; petrol.
- We should consider the global trend of transitioning from the fossil fuel to a very clean energy which may affect the demand of our crude. When there’s this shackles (fall in demand) which is inevitable, the oil moguls will increase the domestic price in order to annul or nullify the global upset. What are the plans to protect innocent Nigerians from this “keburation”?
- Deregulation?
Commercialisation/privatisation could be hoaxes without a sincere commitment which is why ‘deregulation’ is the key when sincerely executed. Deregulation is the protection of the people from monopolies and oligopolies. At best, it is the balancing of market atmosphere and make sure sellers make a tight margin while buyers are not daily ripped off.
Kaje kasuwa sayo abu shagon wadda ka sani sai ya gudu ya barka da yaron shago. What does it imply? This is what Buhari did to Nigerians.
Mubarak Shu’aib,
Hardawa, Misau local government area,
Bauchi state
