Ex-IYC president hails Tinubu over fuel price cut, tackles govs

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

Former President of the Ijaw Youths Council (IYC) Worldwide, Udengs Eradiri, has commended President Bola Tinubu for his renewed efforts to reduce fuel prices and ease the cost of living despite rising global oil prices.

Eradiri, who spoke in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, also challenged state governors to use increased revenues from subsidy removal to reduce transportation costs and provide direct relief to citizens.

He said Tinubu’s latest push to lower fuel prices demonstrated concern for the welfare of ordinary Nigerians.

“We welcome the President back from his vacation. We can see that he is fit for the task ahead. We thank him for coming back and rolling up his sleeves to undertake measures necessary to reduce the cost of living,” he said.

According to him, the effort to lower fuel prices despite rising global oil prices showed that the administration was sensitive to the hardship facing Nigerians.

Eradiri, however, expressed disappointment that many governors had failed to heed Tinubu’s earlier directive to invest subsidy windfalls in reducing transportation costs.

He said the President had urged governors to use the additional revenue to lower transport fares and alleviate citizens’ suffering, but only a few states had responded.

He cited Katsina State, where the government launched compressed natural gas (CNG) buses, electric taxis and other vehicles to reduce transport costs.

“What are other governors doing?” he asked.

The former Bayelsa State governorship candidate said governors who prioritised public welfare should have introduced transport relief programmes without waiting for presidential directives.