Sitting down in my work place, i had a flash back of the removal of subsidy in january and asked myself have we really been paid the dividends of democracy, i started writing.
MOST Nigerians had hoped for the best this new year 2012. In fact, the Christians-both regulars and nominal, those who attended church services annually-December 31st/ January 1st were all in church, praying to God for the best this year.
Unknown to them, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, had other plans for them.
By the afternoon of January 1, 2012, the unbelievable stared Nigerians in the face, their beloved President had removed subsidy on petrol and the pump price had jumped from N65 to between N150 and N160 per litre.
Before the end of that week, which started on a Sunday, a holy day, agitations were rife amongst Nigerians, with individuals, civil rights groups, and the Labour groups calling on the president to rescind his decision.
When it seemed that no positive response was coming from the Federal Government, the Labour Unions met and gave the Government an ultimatum to revert to the old price or witness yet another strike.
Meanwhile, primary and secondary schools students were preparing to go back to school after their Christmas holiday. The students were supposed to resume on Monday, January 9th, 2012, but that was not to be as the Labour groups, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called out their members to embark on a strike action and protest rallies.
On Monday, 16th January, the strike action continued while the protest rallies were suspended before the strike action was later suspended in the evening of that day, when the Federal Government pegged the pump price of petrol at N97 per litre.
It is a common belief that if one could feed, poverty has drastically reduced. A visit to some markets in Ibadan by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the prices of goods have increased.
For instance, a bag of the umbrella brand of rice which sold for N7, 980 is now N8, 200; beans, which was formerly N11, 500 is now N13, 000 while a 25-litre keg of groundnut oil, which was N7, 000 is now N7, 200 and a 5-litre keg of palm oil, which was N1, 000 is now N1, 250.
For provisions, prices of cereals like golden morn have increased from N370 to N380 per sachet, some brands of milk from N380 to N410 per sachet; prices of spices like thyme, curry, white pepper and the likes have also been jerked up by N10 to N20 per jar.
Presently, the prices of onions have increased astronomically. 11 pieces of medium sized onions which sold for N250 to N300 before the strike now sells for N450 to N500 ditto three tubers of “Abuja” yam which were N350 but now N500.
Some Nigerians now do a lot of calculation to know what to buy and what not to buy. Simply called Mama Motunrayo by her friend who accompanied her to Agbeni market, she was still deliberating on whether to buy a brand of corn flakes which costs N450 per pack or another one which costs N410, when she saw another buyer bought a sachet of golden morn for N380.
“You didn't tell me you have golden morn, Mama Motunrayo accused Tunde, the seller.
“But you asked for corn flakes and not golden morn,” he responded.
When asked why she wanted to change her choice of good, she replied, “one has to be cost wise now o. With the increase in prices of goods, if this corn flakes which is 450grams is N410 and this golden morn, which is 500grams is N380, why won't I go for that and save N30.That is what Jonathan's new petrol price regime has caused,” Mama Motunrayo added.
And for many Nigerians, life has not returned to normal after the removal of subsidy, as most people are complaining that the prices of most goods have not reduced. For instance, many filling stations are yet to sell at the approved N97 naira. As at weekend, most filling stations only opened for business at odd hours, selling small quantities at N100 per litre. Also, a lot of complaints have trailed that development, especially as buyers have complained of some form of cheating as they allege that the filling stations do not sell correct measurements.
t was observed in Abuja that many people were queuing at the designated bus stops instead of taking the private taxis cabs and union owned buses because they are newer, neater and most especially, cheaper. Normal distances within the city are said to be N50 as against N80 and N200 charged by the others.
It is believed that when the operation of the government owned buses also begin in other states, it would force down the prices of public transportation costs.
The reduction of subsidy and increase in fuel price has also affected the telecommunication industry. This is because most retailers have added between N10 and N20 to the cost of recharge cards. This has suddenly, made the mobile credit and ATM online credit card purchase popular with more customers buying their requirements online and at the ATMs of different banks.
Fast food joints are not left out of the aftermath. A visit round some of the major fast food outlets in Ibadan, for instance reveal that patronage has reduced drastically, as people might just have discovered the importance of home cooked meals.
Most eateries and food courts now cook less than their normal quantities and are even more courteous to customers, all in a bid to woo more people. Some have even devised new methods of promising gifts and prizes, in an effort to meet their set targets.
“Let Jonathan give us good roads, pipe borne water, electricity, affordable houses, cheaper transportation and all other things that will make life conducive for the common man. Goods are too costly in the market now. He should do something to bring down the prices of goods.”
MOST Nigerians had hoped for the best this new year 2012. In fact, the Christians-both regulars and nominal, those who attended church services annually-December 31st/ January 1st were all in church, praying to God for the best this year.
Unknown to them, the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, Mr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, had other plans for them.
By the afternoon of January 1, 2012, the unbelievable stared Nigerians in the face, their beloved President had removed subsidy on petrol and the pump price had jumped from N65 to between N150 and N160 per litre.
Before the end of that week, which started on a Sunday, a holy day, agitations were rife amongst Nigerians, with individuals, civil rights groups, and the Labour groups calling on the president to rescind his decision.
When it seemed that no positive response was coming from the Federal Government, the Labour Unions met and gave the Government an ultimatum to revert to the old price or witness yet another strike.
Meanwhile, primary and secondary schools students were preparing to go back to school after their Christmas holiday. The students were supposed to resume on Monday, January 9th, 2012, but that was not to be as the Labour groups, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) called out their members to embark on a strike action and protest rallies.
On Monday, 16th January, the strike action continued while the protest rallies were suspended before the strike action was later suspended in the evening of that day, when the Federal Government pegged the pump price of petrol at N97 per litre.
It is a common belief that if one could feed, poverty has drastically reduced. A visit to some markets in Ibadan by Nigerian Tribune revealed that the prices of goods have increased.
For instance, a bag of the umbrella brand of rice which sold for N7, 980 is now N8, 200; beans, which was formerly N11, 500 is now N13, 000 while a 25-litre keg of groundnut oil, which was N7, 000 is now N7, 200 and a 5-litre keg of palm oil, which was N1, 000 is now N1, 250.
For provisions, prices of cereals like golden morn have increased from N370 to N380 per sachet, some brands of milk from N380 to N410 per sachet; prices of spices like thyme, curry, white pepper and the likes have also been jerked up by N10 to N20 per jar.
Presently, the prices of onions have increased astronomically. 11 pieces of medium sized onions which sold for N250 to N300 before the strike now sells for N450 to N500 ditto three tubers of “Abuja” yam which were N350 but now N500.
Some Nigerians now do a lot of calculation to know what to buy and what not to buy. Simply called Mama Motunrayo by her friend who accompanied her to Agbeni market, she was still deliberating on whether to buy a brand of corn flakes which costs N450 per pack or another one which costs N410, when she saw another buyer bought a sachet of golden morn for N380.
“You didn't tell me you have golden morn, Mama Motunrayo accused Tunde, the seller.
“But you asked for corn flakes and not golden morn,” he responded.
When asked why she wanted to change her choice of good, she replied, “one has to be cost wise now o. With the increase in prices of goods, if this corn flakes which is 450grams is N410 and this golden morn, which is 500grams is N380, why won't I go for that and save N30.That is what Jonathan's new petrol price regime has caused,” Mama Motunrayo added.
And for many Nigerians, life has not returned to normal after the removal of subsidy, as most people are complaining that the prices of most goods have not reduced. For instance, many filling stations are yet to sell at the approved N97 naira. As at weekend, most filling stations only opened for business at odd hours, selling small quantities at N100 per litre. Also, a lot of complaints have trailed that development, especially as buyers have complained of some form of cheating as they allege that the filling stations do not sell correct measurements.
t was observed in Abuja that many people were queuing at the designated bus stops instead of taking the private taxis cabs and union owned buses because they are newer, neater and most especially, cheaper. Normal distances within the city are said to be N50 as against N80 and N200 charged by the others.
It is believed that when the operation of the government owned buses also begin in other states, it would force down the prices of public transportation costs.
The reduction of subsidy and increase in fuel price has also affected the telecommunication industry. This is because most retailers have added between N10 and N20 to the cost of recharge cards. This has suddenly, made the mobile credit and ATM online credit card purchase popular with more customers buying their requirements online and at the ATMs of different banks.
Fast food joints are not left out of the aftermath. A visit round some of the major fast food outlets in Ibadan, for instance reveal that patronage has reduced drastically, as people might just have discovered the importance of home cooked meals.
Most eateries and food courts now cook less than their normal quantities and are even more courteous to customers, all in a bid to woo more people. Some have even devised new methods of promising gifts and prizes, in an effort to meet their set targets.
“Let Jonathan give us good roads, pipe borne water, electricity, affordable houses, cheaper transportation and all other things that will make life conducive for the common man. Goods are too costly in the market now. He should do something to bring down the prices of goods.”
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