We are all aware of the recommendation by the Senate Committee on Works to increase the pump price of petrol from N145 to N150 per litre for the implementation of the proposed National Roads Fund (NRF). Note that it’s for the maintenance of federal roads only.

Listed below are some reasons why the plan is nonsensical, lazy, and shallow – by [email protected]

1. The planned increase is coming one year after the present govenment increased fuel price from N87 to N145 per litre! Haba! Una wan kill Nigerians?

2. Those who spend more time in traffic will pay more. And it doesn’t necessarily mean they will spend the additional time on federal roads. A good example is if you spend 2 hours in traffic inside Lagos. Na wa o.

3. Many buyers of petrol and diesel do so to fuel their generators. Why should this set of people pay extra N5 per litre for fuel? Wetin concern generators and maintenance of roads?

4. Many road users who buy petrol or diesel don’t use or hardly drive on federal roads. A good example? ‘Okada’ riders or local cabs. Ah, I almost forgot those living in villages or towns without any ‘federal road’ presence.

5. Petrol is already too expensive at N145 per litre. Why are the senators not in a hurry to first make local refineries work? This would lower prices and provide more jobs and revenue for the government.

6. What would be the formular to spend the revenue generated on the federal roads in each state? Will it be based on the amount generated from each state? Or land mass? Or population? Even if you’re able to magically determine the amount generated from each state (I don’t know how they can generate reliable figures), the number of federal roads in the state which generates the highest revenue may not be the same or in the same condition as that of state(s) with lower revenues. Magomago go start again o. I can hear echoes of marginalization already.

7. From available evidence, the funds won’t be fairly and equitably utilised. You don’t agree? Look at the condition of Lagos ports and you won’t believe that those ports generate huge revenues for the FG. What of VAT revenue? How is it being distributed? The injustice will continue.

8. Federal Government should reduce its presence in maintaining national assets like federal roads. It should handover existing roads to the states where they are located. Or use PPP (Public Private Partnership) to run them. Trying to run the states from the already over-burdened Federal Government is inefficient and should stop.

For example, Cross River state is planning a 260-kilometre highway and there is no plan to rely on such petrol tax for its maintenance.

9. The existing federal roads should be maintained by revenues from electronically-controlled toll gates. If you don’t want to pay the toll, then don’t use the road(s).

10. Increasing petrol price will increase inflation rate and worsen the suffering of the people. Don’t forget that over 30 states are owing salaries and millions are unemployed.

11. What is the Federal Government’s plan to fund federal roads in the yet to be signed 2017 budget? Why is the Senate trying to increase the hardship of the people when there is already an Appropriation Bill?

12. What exactly is the Senate’s sacrifice to increase the revenue of the government? Why are they always interested in punishing the suffering masses? The National Assembly budget for 2017 is N125 billion!!! A reduction of 10% in the budget will yield N12.5billion! The Senators continue to live large and the masses are living in poverty. Shame!

13. The new plan is not in tune with current global developments in the auto industry. Petrol-driven cars are gradually going into extinction. What were the senators thinking? Many auto manufacturers already have plans to release electric cars.

14. The new plan shows that Nigeria is still lazily fixated on petrol or crude oil as its main revenue source. Diversify! Look elsewhere! Think of better ideas! Petrol is dying…wake up now!

15. It’s surprising that the Nigerian Senate is not bothered about the calls by Nigerians to unleash the potentials of the country by urgently restructuring the polity, or by the rot in the Police, poor education standard, price hike of everything, worsening unemployment, or the surge in crime.  The only thing they could think of is a Roads Fund which revenue will be looted like others before it.

16. What system is in place to ensure that the revenue from the price hike will not be looted? I’m not aware of any. What is happening to revenue from Stamp Duty charge being collected from Nigerians? Hmmm…

Nigerians, forward and circulate this before it’s too late. Enough is enough!

Written by:- Olaparodi