Earl Osaro Onaiwu, the first Director General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, has encouraged the 36 state governors to act promptly in response to the terrible suffering brought on by the elimination of gasoline subsidies by the federal government.
The state administration, according to Onaiwu, can no longer rely on monthly allotments.
In a statement he issued on Tuesday in Abuja, he said, “The most logical next step is for state governors to deploy at least 200 buses to alleviate the exorbitant cost of daily transportation commuters encounter inside the state.
“While bus service will not be free, the return to the previous cost of transportation before the President announced the withdrawal of subsidies will go a long way toward alleviating the pain of the masses.”
Onaiwu told the governors to collaborate with over six indigenous vehicle manufacturing companies as well as their foreign counterparts in Nigeria to achieve this goal, noting that public transit can be fueled by gasoline, diesel, or electricity.
According to him, “Indeed, renewable energy-powered transportation will open up new economic opportunities. Nigeria would thereby become a significant participant in cleaner energy research, transportation, and supporting infrastructure such as repair centers and charging stations.
“We need to take some burdens off people’s shoulders, and we can do so by providing cheaper mass transit. Each state may expect to deploy at least 200 buses in the next two years.
“It is more strategic and makes more economic sense than government giveaways disguised as cash transfers,” he said.
He claimed that the state government’s action has become required and that if they follow his advice, the gap in public confidence in individual leaders would close.
“Look, state governors should not wait for street protests before taking necessary action,” he said.
