By Shehu Usman Yahaya
The Director-General Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation Engr. Abubakar Gambo Umar, has urged federal and state governments to deploy long term measures to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
Engr Abubakar Gambo Umar, stated in a statement issued to journalists in Kaduna, said direct sharing of foodstuffs as short-term palliatives may be necessary to provide immediate relief, government should focus more on interventions in social services like education and healthcare.
According to him “The Sir Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation acknowledges the decision made by the Federal Government to remove subsidies on petroleum products”
“Direct sharing of foodstuffs as short-term palliatives may be necessary to provide immediate relief to vulnerable populations affected by the subsidy removal and other poverty related. issues. However, it is important to recognize that this approach is a temporary solution. It addresses the immediate need for food but does not provide sustainable support. Therefore, it should be accompanied by long-term measures”
He said “Governments should focus more on areas of social services, such as education and healthcare, to intervene and provide relief to the citizens Commendably, some state governments have already taken positive steps by reducing tuition fees to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
Investing in education is crucial for mitigating the effects of subsidy removal”
Engr. Abubakar Gambo, emphasizes the importance of implementing measures to mitigate the effects of subsidy removal at both the federal and state levels.
He further said “In addition to reducing tuition fees, Federal and state governments can consider providing scholarships and grants to ensure that education remains accessible to all, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds”
“This will help alleviate the financial burden on families and ensure that children can continue their education uninterrupted” .
“Similar measures could be implemented in the healthcare sector. Affordable and accessible healthcare is vital during times of economic hardships”
“Both Federal and State governments should explore options to reduce healthcare costs, provide subsidies for essential medications, or expand health insurance coverage for vulnerable populations” he added
The Director-General, explained that investments in healthcare infrastructure and facilities can help improve access to quality healthcare services.
He added “There is equally an urgent need to stabilize food prices. The drastic increase in food commodity prices, especially grains, is having severe implications for the population”
“Governments should urgently implement measures to address this issue, such as promoting agricultural productivity, providing subsidies to farmers, improving storage facilities to reduce post-harvest losses, and. implementing price control mechanisms to prevent price gouging”
” Collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including farmers’ associations and food supply chains, is essential in formulating effective strategies”
He called for strict monitoring of the funds allocated by the federal government to states to cushion the effects of subsidy removal.
” It is crucial to ensure that the resources are utilized effectively for the benefit of the people”
“Measures must be in place to prevent any diversion of funds to other non-essential purposes” he concluded.
