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Christian bodies seek removal of oil subsidy

By Mercy Ada
26 May 2015   |   11:25 pm
A COALITION of Christian non-governmental bodies, in collaboration with the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), has called for a total removal of oil subsidy to rid the sector of corruption. It also urged the incoming administration at the centre to immediately build refineries in each state, starting with one in each geo-political zone. Addressing newsmen in…
oil barrel. Image source Telegraph UK

oil barrel. Image source Telegraph UK

A COALITION of Christian non-governmental bodies, in collaboration with the Christian Welfare Initiative (CWI), has called for a total removal of oil subsidy to rid the sector of corruption.

It also urged the incoming administration at the centre to immediately build refineries in each state, starting with one in each geo-political zone.

Addressing newsmen in Lagos yesterday on the state of the nation, the groups’ spokesman, Archbishop Magnus Adeyemi Atilade, described oil subsidy as the greatest fraud and daylight robbery by the people in government, using a cabal to steal Nigeria’s commonwealth.

Atilade, who is CWI president and chairman, South-West chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), urged the incoming government to reduce reliance on oil-based economy and begin to exploit other available mineral resources, develop agriculture and agro-allied industries to change Nigeria from a consumer nation to industrialised none.

According to the coalition, fuel subsidy has been used in the past to siphon the nation’s money into foreign personal accounts. It also tasked government to improve power generation and distribution across the country to aid Nigerians in their quest for self-reliance and employment.

On war against corruption, the groups wants the government to employ the zero tolerance policy, adding that there must be accountability and open government. They further canvassed the reorganisation and merger of the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

More so, they sought social security for Nigerians through effective economic empowerment programmes, with supportive Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) credit facilities, improved and better maintained road networks, railway system for mass transportation of bulk goods, such as petroleum products, cement, equipment and building materials, among others.

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