Eradiri Urges Tinubu to Invest Subsidy Savings in Refineries

Udengs Eradiri, the former President of the Ijaw Youth Council, called on President Bola Tinubu to utilize savings from the removal of fuel subsidies to rehabilitate Nigeria's refineries and strengthen local government autonomy. In a statement released on Tuesday, Eradiri criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar's proposal to reinstate the fuel subsidy, arguing that the subsidy regime failed to provide relief to Nigerians as intended.

He emphasized the need for the government to ensure that all state-owned refineries operate at full capacity, asserting that increased domestic fuel production would lower petrol prices and reduce the cost of goods and services. Eradiri suggested that the President direct the Petroleum Minister to oversee refinery operations and proposed the establishment of a separate Ministry of Refineries to focus on overcoming challenges facing refinery growth.

He also criticized state governors for hindering economic reforms and called for local government elections to be conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission to enhance local government autonomy.