Subsidy removal: Government is restructuring petroleum sector —Former senator

Dr Ita Enang a former Senator says the Federal Government is restructuring petroleum sector to ensure crude oil is refined locally and to cushion the effect of removal of petrol subsidy.

Enang spoke on Monday in Abuja at a stakeholder meeting titled “Nigeria Dialogue Media Chat” with the theme “Our democratic Stability”.

Supreme News reports that the event was organised by the Rufus Ebegba Centre for Leadership and Environmental Sustainability, an Environmental NGO.

He advised Nigerians not to rely on palliatives alone as a cushion against the effects of the subsidy removal.

Enang said the removal of the petrol subsidy has brought pain, and the youths have expressed concern as it affects them.

“The alternative to petroleum is gas. That is why the President has created the office of the Minister of State on Gas so that more engagement will be on Gas,” he said.

Enang said gas would become popular because it is cheaper to run cars.

He said that the meeting was an effort by the centre to find out the concerns of the youth in the country and the way forward.

Dr Rufus Ebegba, the founder of the centre appealed to the Federal Government to look at some of the country’s policies and make Nigeria a better nation.

“Nigerians are complaining seriously, and this borders on the sustainability of our democracy.

“We want to sustain our democracy, so there is a need to dialogue with the youths, who are more or less the key to this administration, to ensure that the stability of this nation is attained,” Ebegba said.

He said that the essence of the dialogue is to advise the present administration on how to touch the lives of Nigerians in the areas of security, infrastructure, and health.

Also, the electioneering processes, the judiciary, the legislative, and security are key issues in the country.

“The outcome of this meeting would be passed onto the government to see whether they can consider some of these proposals.

“We just want to see how we can touch humanity and then come out with ideas that can facilitate good and ideal leadership,” Ebegba explained.

NAN reports that the dialogue features 20 youth organisations and NGOs in Abuja.