Fuel price hike: Kudos to FCT Minister

I write to commend the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello for the palliatives he recently introduced in the FCT to mitigate the effect of the recent hike in the pump price of petrol on workers of the FCTA and indeed other residents of the territory. This decision stands out as yet […]

I write to commend the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello for the palliatives he recently introduced in the FCT to mitigate the effect of the recent hike in the pump price of petrol on workers of the FCTA and indeed other residents of the territory. This decision stands out as yet another manifestation of exemplary leadership by the Minister
Obviously, bus fares all over the territory have doubled, with the recent increase in pump price of petrol from N86 to N145, and this has further increased the hardship being experienced by workers and other residents of the territory.
The metropolitan nature of the city is such that most of the government workers and other businessmen live in the outskirts of the city but work and do most of their businesses in the city centre, meaning that they would be spending heavily on transportation when in actual sense their income has not increased.
But the Minister has shown a rare demonstration of selfless leadership and high degree of love that he has for the residents of FCT as well as his empathy for the hardship being experienced by many families who have been hit hard by this sudden fuel price increase with the palliatives that he has rolled to soften the blow.
Additionally, the FCT Administration is re-introducing the operation of the staff bus scheme by making new buses available to convey workers from their homes to the office and back. This measure is geared towards the administration’s desire to improve welfare of members of staff.
The designated routes for the re-introduced staff bus scheme are: Nyanya/Karu; Mararaba/Masaka; Keffi/Nasarawa and Suleja/Zuba. Other routes are: Kubwa; Gwagwalada/Lugbe; Jikwoyi/Karshi; Dutse/Bwari as well as Kuje.
No doubt, the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry has increased the suffering of Nigerians. But these steps by the Minister are indeed a welcome development that will reduce the plight of workers and other residents of the FCT. Kudos to the FCT Minister.
 
Danladi Akilu, Abuja.