Idris Aminu, a mechanic popularly addressed as Engineer Bappah, a resident of Gwallaga in Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi State is one of the millions of citizens in the state ravaged by the impact caused by the removal of fuel subsidy and could not get any assistance.
WikkiTimes recalls that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on May 29, 2023, announced the removal of the subsidy shortly after taking an oath of office. The policy resulted in to hike in fuel prices exposing residents to untold hardship as the prices of all other stuff skyrocketed in response.
Subsequently, the federal government promised N5 billion to each state and N2 billion was released so far.
In Bauchi State, the first phase of the palliatives was distributed but left a greater population in continued wait, but locals’ hopes are now dashed away.
Engineer Aminu did not get the government palliatives, however, could identify one or two persons from his community that have gotten the succour. “The palliative distribution has not reached me yet but I can identify one or two people that have gotten the palliative,” he said.
Aminu joined the queue to get his share, but it was fruitless. He said in the process of palliative distribution, several people got injured. “There are many strategies the government could have adopted to distribute palliative.”
Another resident, a father of 20 revealed that he and several other neighbours could only hear about palliative on the news. “I have 20 children that I feed, the palliative did not reach me and my children. We only heard the news that the government was distributing but no one got it here.
He added, “My message to the government is to be fair in the distribution of palliative because we the poor are still in hardship and we are suffering. The government should reach out to us through our leaders (mai anguwa).
Furairah Aliyu, a mother of nine did not get the palliative.
According to Furairah, the hardship her family experienced after the removal of the subsidy cannot be quantified.
She pleaded with the government to prepare a good arrangement for the fair distribution of the initiative.
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Saleh Garba, also a resident of Zango and father 24, said he has not gotten any palliative, faulted the way the palliative was distributed in the state, “It was not encouraging.” He urged the government to review the distribution, “the government should get committees that include traditional leaders.
Another resident, Umar Ibrahim from Federal Lowcost, said the removal of the subsidy has caused more harm than good.
Ibrahim urged the government to bring back fuel subsidies, “We are not supporting the government in this, and we hope they will do the needful because the poor are suffering. The fuel subsidy was the only thing that the poor were benefitting from the government.
Several people reached out by WikkiTimes faulted the removal of the subsidy and also the process of the distribution of the palliative in the state.
Hajiya Hajara Yakubu Wanka, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs was not available to comment. A text message sent to her was not responded to at press time.
