The Chairman of the Center for Human Rights and Accountability Network (CHRAN) in Akwa Ibom State, Otuekong Franklyn Isong, has provided guidance to the Akwa Ibom State government concerning the utilization of the £5 billion recently allocated by the Federal Government.

Isong has suggested that the funds be directed towards the procurement of vehicles running on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG). Additionally, he has proposed that the government should consider subsidizing transportation costs for civil servants, school children, and other residents.

Isong, who is also a member of the Palliatives Committee in Akwa Ibom State, expressed the hope that the Governor would consider establishing a fuel depot or refinery using the funds. Such a facility could contribute to reducing the cost of petroleum products. He emphasized that the elevated cost of goods and services in the country is a direct consequence of the removal of fuel subsidies. Isong further highlighted that the most effective approach to mitigating this impact would be the swift establishment of a functional refinery.

He told Vistanaij Media that, “I’m aware that the FG has approved N5 billion to all the states of the federation as palliatives to ameliorate the hardship caused by fuel subsidy removal. We are yet to be briefed at the committee level on how it will be utilised.

“But we at CHRAN and CSOs are making far reaching recommendations that, if implemented, would positively impact the lives of everyone. We are looking beyond the sharing of grains and pittance. 

“We are looking at the area of having a long term palliative that would help impact the lives of everyone; we are harping on the government to have a fuel depot or refinery that would reduce the cost of petroleum products.

“We are looking at the government bringing CNG vehicles that would subsidise the cost of transport, more vehicles that would transport civil servants from plaza or any other strategic place to the secretariat and the school children, as well as building refineries and a depot. 

“It is not just sharing of rice, money; we want it to affect the rural dwellers positively by building good roads, improving agriculture, and building ranches.

“We want the herders/farmers’ clash to stop; we already have the anti-grazing law, we want the government to implement that by first of all having ranches where the cows will be taken to, so that the cows will not destroy people’s farmlands.” 

In his perspective, Sir Sunday Orie, the President of non-indigenes in Akwa Ibom State, has criticized the £5 billion palliative as an act of robbery against the masses.

Orie expressed bewilderment over the Federal Government’s continuous escalation of petroleum product prices, resulting in an unprecedented surge in commodity costs. He questioned the decision to offer a mere £5 billion to state governors as a means to alleviate the repercussions, without tackling the underlying issue at hand.

Characterizing the impact of £5 billion as negligible, the Igbo leader in Akwa Ibom appealed to President Bola Tinubu to establish a conducive environment and implement people-friendly policies. He urgently called for measures to address the volatility of the exchange rate, aiming to foster a thriving business environment. 

“What is N5 billion for a State? By the time you rob Peter to pay Paul it is still robbery. Just give us an enabling environment, just give us an opportunity to make money, many people have parked their vehicles because they can’t afford the fuel.

“Everyday you increase the price of fuel and say you are giving a palliative tomorrow. There are people in the interior villages that cannot come to town because of the high cost of transportation to buy or sell their goods.

“You give them N1500 as palliative for instance, will that take care of their transportation not to talk of feeding? So who is fooling who?

“The government should as a matter of urgency tackle the root cause of the hardship Nigerians are facing currently,” he advised.