The recent announcement of the Nigerian government securing an $800 million World Bank facility for fuel subsidy palliatives has sparked mixed reactions from citizens.
Some callers on #HardFacts with Dayo Elusakin have shared their opinions on the move and the proposed palliatives.
One caller expressed frustration with the government's priorities, asking, "You mean $800 million is coming into this country and what we can think of is use it for palliatives?" The caller suggested that the government should use the funds to invest in long-term solutions, such as building modular refineries to reduce dependency on imported fuel.
Another caller raised concerns about how the government would identify the population that the subsidy removal would affect. Without accurate data and proper implementation, the caller argued that the palliatives may not reach the intended beneficiaries.
The sentiment that building a refinery is "rocket science" was echoed by another caller.
Watch the video below for their reactions:
