Following President Goodluck Jonathan’s announcement of the reduction of fuel from N141 to N97, some Nigerians believe it is a welcome development while others say more can still be achieved.
A survey carried out in Abuja on Monday showed that Nigerians exhibited mixed feelings about the situation while small business operators were optimistic of an increase in?their sales.
Esther Agboola, a student of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) Zaria, said “It’s a good development and people should be able to cope now.”
She said labour should allow business to go on as usual while negotiations were on so that already grounded businesses could pick up.
Sunday Afolarin, a barbing saloon operator, urged the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) to call off the strike as it would be in favour of Nigerians who were already broke as a result of little or no business transactions.
?“Business has been very horrible as there are no customers so it is affecting everybody. I think we should support the president and give him some time to tackle the issue of corruption instead.”
He said the reduction in fuel price would help his business because “we will reduce our own price so that people can afford to come and do business with us.”
Meanwhile, Abdul Akeem, a fashion designer, said diversification from oil to other sectors for revenue generation is the solution to the incessant economic challenges the nation faced.
Akeem said “this is getting very difficult for the masses and it is not good for us after all it is not only crude oil we have in Nigeria, we have other resources that we can benefit from.”
Aliyu Shehu, a road transport worker, said he supported the removal of fuel subsidy, the NLC had scored a good point by making the Federal Government go back from N141 to N97 even though the aim was the former N65 per litre.
He said the FG should be allowed to carry on with deregulation for a test period of one year determining if the promised benefits were achievable or not.
Mr Ambrose Okoh, a trader, said although the NLC had done well, the strike should be called off because it had really affected his business.
“They have tried because they have been able to persuade the FG to come down to N97 but they should please come to a compromise so that everything will work together.”
The National Secretary of National Conscience Party (NCP), Dr Yunusa Tanko, said the reduction was not acceptable by his party saying “it is still a proposal”.
He said only when it is totally reversed to N65 would it benefit Nigerians.
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