THE PROS & CONS OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL IN NIGERIA

By: The Lazy Blogger

The Nigerian government's decision to remove fuel subsidies has been met with mixed reactions. Some people believe that it is a necessary step to improve the country's finances, while others believe that it will have a negative impact on the economy and the people of Nigeria.

Pros of Fuel Subsidy Removal

There are a number of potential pros to fuel subsidy removal. These include:

• Increased government revenue: The government will save money by no longer subsidizing the price of fuel. This money could be used to fund other important projects, such as infrastructure development or education.
• Reduced corruption: The subsidy system is often corrupt, with a large amount of money being lost to fraud and mismanagement. Removing the subsidy could help to reduce this corruption.
• Improved efficiency: The removal of the subsidy would force the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to become more efficient. The NNPC would need to find ways to reduce its costs in order to remain profitable.

Cons of Fuel Subsidy Removal

There are also a number of potential cons to fuel subsidy removal. These include:

• Increased fuel prices: The removal of the subsidy would lead to an increase in the price of fuel. This would make transportation and other essential goods more expensive for consumers.
• Reduced economic growth: The increase in fuel prices could lead to reduced economic growth. This is because businesses would have to pass on the higher costs to consumers, which could lead to a decline in demand.
• Increased poverty: The increase in the cost of living could lead to increased poverty. This is because many people in Nigeria are already struggling to make ends meet, and the increase in the cost of fuel would make it even more difficult for them to afford basic necessities.

Conclusion

The removal of fuel subsidies is a complex issue with both pros and cons. The Nigerian government will need to carefully weigh the risks and benefits before making a decision.

In my opinion, the government should not remove fuel subsidies at this time. The economy is still recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the removal of subsidies would put a strain on many households. The government should focus on improving the efficiency of the NNPC and reducing corruption in the subsidy system before making any major changes.

Photo Credit: The Cable

THE IMPACT OF FUEL SUBSIDY REMOVAL IN NIGERIA

By: The Lazy Blogger

On May 29, 2023, President Bola Tinubu announced that the Nigerian government would be removing fuel subsidies. This decision has been met with mixed reactions, with some people praising the government for taking a step towards fiscal responsibility, while others have expressed concern about the impact it will have on the economy and the people of Nigeria.

What is a Fuel Subsidy?

A fuel subsidy is a government policy that helps to keep the price of fuel artificially low. This is done by the government paying the difference between the market price of fuel and the price that is charged to consumers. Fuel subsidies are often used in countries with high levels of poverty, as they can help to make transportation and other essential goods more affordable.

Why is Nigeria Removing Fuel Subsidies?

The Nigerian government has stated that it is removing fuel subsidies in order to save money and improve the country's finances. The government has also argued that the subsidy system is corrupt and that it is not reaching the people who need it most.

What are the Potential Impacts of Fuel Subsidy Removal?

The removal of fuel subsidies is likely to have a number of impacts on the Nigerian economy and the people of Nigeria. These impacts include:

• Increased fuel prices: The removal of fuel subsidies is likely to lead to an increase in the price of fuel. This is because the government will no longer be subsidizing the price of fuel, and the market price will be reflected in the price that is charged to consumers.
• Increased inflation: The increase in fuel prices is likely to lead to increased inflation. This is because fuel is a major input cost for many businesses, and the increase in the cost of fuel is likely to be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices for goods and services.
• Reduced economic growth: The increase in inflation is likely to lead to reduced economic growth. This is because inflation can make it more difficult for businesses to plan and invest, and it can also lead to a decline in consumer spending.
• Increased poverty: The increase in the cost of living is likely to lead to increased poverty. This is because many people in Nigeria are already struggling to make ends meet, and the increase in the cost of fuel is likely to make it even more difficult for them to afford basic necessities.

What Can Be Done to Mitigate the Impacts of Fuel Subsidy Removal?

The Nigerian government has announced a number of measures that it is taking to mitigate the impacts of fuel subsidy removal. These measures include:

• Providing cash transfers to poor households: The government is providing cash transfers to poor households to help them cover the cost of the increase in fuel prices.
• Expanding the social safety net: The government is expanding the social safety net to provide more support to vulnerable groups, such as the elderly, the disabled, and children.
• Investing in public transportation: The government is investing in public transportation to make it easier for people to get around without using their own vehicles.

Conclusion

The removal of fuel subsidies is a major policy change that is likely to have a significant impact on the Nigerian economy and the people of Nigeria. The government has taken some steps to mitigate the impacts of the subsidy removal, but it remains to be seen how effective these measures will be.

Photo Credit: Premium Times

CAN I BORROW $25?

A woman came home from work late, tired and irritated, to find her 5-year old son waiting for her at the door.

SON: 'Mummy, may I ask you a question?'
MUM: 'Yeah sure, what it is?' replied the woman.
SON: 'Mummy, how much do you make an hour?'
MUM: 'That's none of your business. Why do you ask such a thing?' the woman said angrily.
SON: 'I just want to know. Please tell me, how much do you make an hour?'
MUM: 'If you must know, I make $50 an hour.'
SON: 'Oh,' the little boy replied, with his head down.
SON: 'Mummy, may I please borrow $25?'

The mother was furious, 'If the only reason you asked that is so you can borrow some money to buy a silly toy or some other nonsense, then you march yurself straight to your room and go to bed. Think about why you are being so selfish. I don't work hard everyday for such childish frivolities.'
The little boy quietly went to his room and shut the door. . .
The woman sat down and started to get evn angrier about the little boy's questions. How dare he ask such questions only to get some money?
After about an hour or so, the woman had calmed down, and started to think: Maybe there was something he really needed to buy with that $25 and she really didn't ask for money very often. The woman went to the door of the little boy's room and opened the door.
'Are you asleep, son?' She asked.
'No Mummy, I'm awake,' replied the boy.
'I've been thinking, maybe I was too hard on you earlier' said the woman. 'It's been a long day and I took out my aggravation on you. Here's the $25 you asked for.'
The little boy sat straight up, smiling. 'Oh, thank yu Mummy!' he yelled. Then, reaching under his pillow he pulled out some crumpled up bills.
The woman saw that the boy already had money, started to get angry again.
The little boy slowly counted his money and then looked up at his mother.
'Why do yu want more money if yu already have some?' the mother grumbled.
'Because I didn't have enough, but now I do,' the little boy replied.
'Mummy, I have $50 now. Can I buy an hour of your time? Please come home early tomorrow. I would like to have dinner with you.'
The mother was crushed. She put his arms around her little son, and she begged for his forgiveness.

This is just a short reminder to all of yu working so hard in life. We should not let time slip throug our fingers without having spent some time with those who really matter to us, those close to our hearts.
Do remember to share that $50 worth of your time with someone you love.
If we die tomorrow, the company that we are working for could easily replace us in a matter of hours. But the family & friends we leave behind will feel the loss for the rest of their lives.

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LAFF IT OFF. . .

(This Happened Many Years Ago, Enjoy).
Late in 1994, an 87 year old man died in a village close to Amai, Kwale, Delta State.
The late man's grandson, Ufiaka, who was 26 years old and fairly educated, was given some money and asked to travel to Agbor to buy a fine casket for his grandpa's burial.
Ufiaka left base early and arrived Agbor in good time to purchase the casket and make the return journey same day. He was fortunate to get an open back white coloured Peugeot 404 pickup heading for Amai.
He, however, had to ride in the back of the pickup with the casket because 2 market women traveling to Amai were already seated in front with the driver.
On the journey home, they ran into a heavy rain storm close to Uronigbe and Ufiaka quickly opened the casket, laid himself nicely in the well padded interior, covered the lid and used the folded newspaper he had with him to leave a small opening between the lid and the main body of the white casket to ensure adequate ventilation.
The interior of the casket was very comfortable and Ufiaka soon fell into a very deep sleep.
The rain had subsided at the time the pickup van arrived at Umutu and during a brief stop there, 2 men travelling to Amai boarded the vehicle at the back and the same happened at Obiaruku where a man and a woman travelling also to Amai entered the vehicle.
All this while, Ufiaka was enjoying his beautiful sleep inside the Casket completely unaware of the new passengers who boarded at Umutu and Obiaruku.
The pickup van arrived Amai just after 5pm and the driver, who was now very hungry, stopped in front of a busy buka to have a quick bite before proceeding on to the next village.
The sudden stoppage and reviving of the pickup's engine woke Ufiaka who then opened the lid of the casket and rose up.
Trouble then started!
The passengers in the back of the pickup jumped out of the vehicle from various points and took to their heels in various directions.
The people eating in the buka including the owner and her service girls who saw the white casket open, and a "ghost" step out, ran off all over the place, some with balls of eba and akpu in their hands.
Ufiaka, seeing people running 'helter skelter' was convinced that armed robbers were operating and decided to take-off in the direction 3 of the passengers including the woman were running.
When the 3 passengers realised that Ufiaka was running towards them, they increased their speed and shouted "ghost! ghost!"ghost! and, to further worsen the situation, Ufiaka was dressed in white up and down with white shoes to match that day.
With the shouting of 'ghost', other people in their homes came out to see what was going on and on seeing people running at high speed all over, they joined in the race for their dear life and the number just swelled.
The driver and the 2 market women were the only people who knew what was going on and they had a hell of a time calming the people down and explaining that he merely needed shelter, while it was raining.
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Potatoes, Eggs, And Coffee Beans. . . Which Are You?

‎within us.jpg (115.9 KB)
Once upon a time a daughter complained to her father that her life was miserable and that she didn't know how she was going to make it. She was tired of fighting and struggling all the time. It seemed just as one problem was solved, another one soon followed.
Her father, a chef, took her to the kitchen. He filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Once the three pots began to boil, he placed potatoes in one pot, eggs in the second pot, and ground coffee beans in the third pot.
He then let them sit and boil, without saying a word to his daughter. The daughter, moaned and impatiently waited, wondering what he was doing.
After twenty minutes he turned off the burners. He took the potatoes out of the pot and placed them in a bowl. He pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl.
He then ladled the coffee out and placed it in a cup. Turning to her he asked. "Daughter, what do you see?"
"Potatoes, eggs, and coffee," she hastily replied.
"Look closer," he said, "and touch the potatoes." She did and noted that they were soft. He then asked her to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard-boiled egg. Finally, he asked her to sip the coffee. Its rich aroma brought a smile to her face.
"Father, what does this mean?" she asked.
He then explained that the potatoes, the eggs and coffee beans had each faced the same adversity– the boiling water.
However, each one reacted differently.
The potato went in strong, hard, and unrelenting, but in boiling water, it became soft and weak.
The egg was fragile, with the thin outer shell protecting its liquid interior until it was put in the boiling water. Then the inside of the egg became
hard.
However, the ground coffee beans were unique. After they were exposed to the boiling water, they changed the water and created something new.
"Which are you," he asked his daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a potato, an egg, or a coffee bean? "
Moral:
In life, things happen around us, things happen to us, but the only thing that truly matters is what happens within us.

Which one are you?

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Top 5 Nigerian Celebrities Who Are Humble To A Fault.

They say with fame, money and power comes arrogance for many celebrities but some have been able to keep it real both to themselves and their fans. On this list we give a quick rundown of five humble celebrities in Nigeria.

Tuface Idibia:

Tuface Idibia is easily considered the most humble Nigerian celebrity out there and a look into his life will make you see why. The African Queen hit maker is one of the top notch artistes in Nigeria that has brought global recognition to Nigeria and is adored by fans from across Africa and indeed the globe. With a humility that is astounding for a man of his caliber, Tuface is easily a role model for fans and other celebs alike.

Genevieve Nnaji:

Genevieve Nnaji isn't lacking in the beauty department neither is she a mediocre in her chosen field. She comfortably wears the super star crown as one of the best actresses to have come out of Africa. Despite all her class and sophistication, Genevieve Nnaji is known to always keep it real and graceful. Even when baited to bad mouth her country in an international interview, she had nothing but a good comment about her beloved Nigeria.

Don Jazzy - the Mavin Boss:

Ace music producer Don Jazzy was ranked as the second most bankable artiste in Africa in 2013 by Forbes Africa and Channel O coming in behind Akon. This list puts him as the most bankable artiste in Nigeria but despite his fame and wealth, the Mavin Records boss has been able to maintain a humble profile. Known to be very active on the social media, he commands a large followership and is constantly communicating with the fans that have helpedcontributed to his success.

Chidinma Ekile:

Chidinma is definitely not the same girl that won
Project Fame West Africa back in 2010 but one thing is for sure, despite the fact that she is balling now; she is still the humble girl from her days of being in the music academy. With many hit songs like "Jankoliko," 'Kedike," "Run Dia Mouth," among others to her credit, the petite female singer with a powerful vice has gone ahead to be the first female musician to peak at number 1 on the MTV Base Official Naija Top 10 Chart with her single "Emi Ni Baller." Love her or hate her, Chidinma keeps it real and in 2012 she won the Best Female West African Act category at the 2012 Kora Awards.

Sound Sultan:

Born Lanre Fasasi, many know him as Sound Sultan and he is one Nigerian musician that has been able to remain afloat in the music industry for over a decade. Considered one of the most humble and kind celebrity even by fellow colleagues, he received a shout out recently from Peter Okoye of the P-Square brothers who thanked him for giving the P-Square duo an unforgettable opportunity in a lifetime.

In an interview with Punch, the artiste himself went on to reveal that humility is one of the ways he has been able to maintain a successful career.
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Lovers Found Dead 2 Weeks Before Wedding

THE decomposing remains of two lovers, simply identified as Udogi Eguke and Ese, were found on Sunday, days after they died in mysterious circumstances in their Makolomi Street apartment of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The house owner, Chief Alfred Onavwa, who shares the top floor of the one-storey building with one of the deceased, confirmed the incident. He said having been contacted on the absence of one of the deceased by neighbours, he called his line only to realize that his mobile phone was ringing upstairs. He explained further: "On getting close to the door of the private stairway leading to their apartment, I noticed that it was locked from inside, with a stench oozing out.
"On realizing this, I personally invited the police who came and broke the door only to discover their decomposing bodies. "Their remains were later deposited in the mortuary and I was made to understand that investigation into the
matter was ongoing.
"Even the Ughelli Divisional Police Officer was here to see things for himself."
Meanwhile, findings revealed that the couple, whose wedding was slated for November 22, had started preparation, with invitation cards already sent out to intending guests.
When contacted for comments, Ughelli Divisional Police Officer, Samuel Musa, neither debunked nor confirmed the incident. He directed all comments on the matter to the state Police Public Relation Officer, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Celestina Kalu. However, at press time, calls and messages to her phone were yet to be replied.

[Vanguard]
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