The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to consider the interests of Nigerians living in border communities, who are facing significant hardship due to the removal of fuel subsidy.
The House also urged the FG to distribute palliatives to these communities to cushion the effects of the hardship. This decision followed the adoption of a motion on Thursday, which was moved by Mr Adegboyega Isiaka, representing Egbado North/Imeko-Afon Federal Constituency, Ogun State.
Isiaka noted that despite a resolution passed by the House on July 11, 2023, urging the FG to lift the ban on petroleum products moving 20km to and from the borders, the resolution has yet to be implemented. This has resulted in untold hardship for residents living within 20km of the Nigerian land border.
The effective cost per litre to residents and small-scale businesses in these border communities is close to N2,000 per litre, in addition to other deprivations. The House is concerned that the situation could worsen if urgent intervention is not taken by the Federal Government.
The House presided over by Speaker Tajudeen Abbas urged the relevant federal ministries and agencies to give special consideration to the Nigerian land border communities in the allocation and distribution of palliatives and other concessions. The Committees on Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Finance; and Agricultural and Food Production were given four weeks to report back to the House for further legislative actions.
