*Seeks probe of fuel subsidy management fraud
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has said that Nigerians are going through undeserved pains following the removal of subsidy on petroleum.
Falana blamed the present situation on the refusal of the immediate past president, Muhammadu Buhari, to fulfil his campaign promise to fix the country’s refineries during his eight years in office.
The SAN, who spoke on a television programme, said that a lot of fraud characterised the management of fuel subsidy, saying President Bola Tinubu-led government would have to investigate the issues.
He said, “The government will have to move speedily to address the suffering of the people, undeserved pains inflicted on the people, because of the irresponsibility of the Nigerian ruling class.
“Whereas Gen. Muhammadu Buhari had promised in 2015, ‘When I get to power, I am going to fix all the refineries.’
“Now it’s clear that those who initially applauded the removal of fuel subsidy are beginning to appreciate the enormity of the crisis that it has caused for the country. They are now mounting pressure on the government to fast-track the process of cushioning the effects of the removal.
“What is important in the implementation of government policies on the removal of the fuel subsidy is to look at the impact on the people.
“No doubt there was a lot of fraud that characterised the management of fuel subsidy and the government will have to investigate that,” he said.
