Nigerians can begin to look forward to enjoying the benefits of the planned removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government from the middle of next year,President Goodluck Jonathan declared last night.
He told them to expect a massive creation of jobs in the construction sector and agriculture in particular.
Such is the success which agriculture is expected to bring that government plans to stop rice importation by 2015, while improvement in power output will ensure that the “average Nigerian will have no reason to own a generator.”
President Jonathan spoke on national television in his second media chat. He said: “At the beginning, there will be an increase in fuel price but it wont last for long.
“In the next four/five years, a lot of things will change.Of the six zones, there is none that cannot produce enough rice. Before the end of our term, we’ll stop importation of rice. The average Nigerian will have no reason to own a generator. You don’t have to wait for 10 years to achieve that.”
The chat, which was moderated by Mr. Kayode Akintemi of Channels Television, dwelt mainly on the oil sector deregulation as the President chose to describe the planned fuel subsidy removal. The other interviewers were: Dr. Fatima Akilu, Chairman, Editorial Board of Leadership Newspaper, Mr. Steve Nwosu, Editor, The Sun and Mr. Seyi Fasugba, Editor, National Mirror.
The president was confident of receiving the backing of the National Assembly on the issue,saying: “ I’m a member of the PDP. The PDP as a party understands the situation and is being taken along.Majority of members of the National Assembly are from the party.
“It (National Assembly) cannot be against creation of jobs.This is not just a Jonathan project. We have the ministers,the governors. We are discussing with all of them. Even members of the National Assembly, they know that if the economy collapses because of the fuel subsidy, it will affect them.
“By the time they return from their break, they will see reason with us.I don’t think they will be against it provided they get the necessary explanation.”
Asked about his consultations with a cross section of Nigerians on the subsidy issue,he said the responses have been encouraging, citing the position of some youths who,according to him, said they were in agreement with government on its decision to cease borrowing to finance subsidy.
President Jonathan said deregulation is inevitable now, otherwise, the government succeeding his would have plenty of problems confronting it such as inflation, devaluation of the naira and unemployment.
But he said that is not to suggest that the country is broke in anyway.
On his achievements, he said he has set up ‘a strong economic team’ to lay a solid economic foundation for the country, while government is in the process of executing its robust agricultural programme.
He disagreed with the suggestion that he is not ‘forceful’ as president. He asked to be given examples of things he should have done forcefully.
He assured Nigerians that he and Vice President Namadi Sambo are not out to “inflict pains on you (Nigerians).”
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Expect benefits of deregulation mid next year, says Jonathan