<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Convener of the Rescue Movement, Faduri Oluwadamilare Joseph, has blamed Nigeria\u2019s worsening fuel price crisis on years of poor leadership, failure to fix local refineries, and lack of accountability in the management of public funds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reacting to the global spike in oil prices triggered by tensions between Israel, the United States and Iran, Faduri said Nigeria should have been benefiting from the situation as a major crude oil producer, rather than suffering its consequences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt is unfortunate that over the past years we have never had a good government,\u201d he said. \u201cIf we had leaders who fixed our refineries, the conflict in Iran should have been something Nigeria benefits from today.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to him, Nigeria\u2019s continued dependence on refining crude oil abroad has left the country vulnerable to global shocks, forcing Nigerians to buy fuel at inflated prices despite the nation\u2019s vast oil resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf our crude oil was refined at home, we would be making money. Instead, we refine abroad and bring it back at higher costs. Nigerians who know nothing about the war are the ones paying the price for years of bad leadership,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faduri also criticized the removal of fuel subsidy, insisting the government should fully restore it rather than consider temporary relief measures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe government does not need a temporary fuel subsidy. What Nigerians need is the full restoration of the subsidy removed in 2023,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery government in the world supports its people in one way or another. Here, the subsidy was removed without any clear plan.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He questioned the transparency of revenues supposedly generated from the subsidy removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are told the government is making excess money from subsidy removal, but Nigerians cannot see it. There is no accountability, no records, and no explanation of where the money is going,\u201d he stated.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Rescue Movement convener argued that Nigeria lacks effective policies to protect citizens from economic shocks, noting that there are no functioning price control mechanisms in the country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFuel prices go up the way they like, food prices go up the way they like, rent goes up the way it likes. There is no control,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is what happens when leaders do not care about the people.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faduri also criticized political appointments in government, alleging that some positions are given to loyalists rather than qualified professionals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInstead of appointing experts, they appoint their friends and political allies just to silence critics. That is why many of the policies we see today are ineffective,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
With petrol prices reportedly rising from about \u20a6700 to over \u20a61,000 per litre in some parts of the country, he accused the government of reacting too late to economic pressures affecting ordinary Nigerians.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis government is never proactive. It only reacts after citizens have cried and suffered,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Faduri called for what he described as a \u201cgenerational change in leadership,\u201d declaring his intention to push reforms that would restore economic stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need a complete change of leadership in this nation, and that is why I am coming on board to help rescue our country,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a long-term solution to Nigeria\u2019s vulnerability to global energy shocks, he stressed the urgent need to repair and operate the country\u2019s refineries while boosting domestic production across multiple sectors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUntil we fix our refineries, we will keep hearing promises from one government to another while billions of dollars are mismanaged,\u201d he said. \u201cNigeria must become a producing nation again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He also urged leaders to promote local industries, invest in security, and reduce reliance on foreign goods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet us produce what we use, from cars to even toothpicks. When we begin to produce as a nation and not just consume, we can compete in the global economy,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Convener of the Rescue Movement, Faduri Oluwadamilare Joseph, has blamed Nigeria\u2019s worsening fuel price crisis<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":701,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_crdt_document":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n