The Federation of Tourism Associations of Nigeria (FTAN) says the removal of subsidy on fuel by President Muhammadu Buhari administration is a welcome development and calls on labour to support the government.
Chief Tomi Akingbogun, the President of FTAN made the position known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Akingbogun said, ``we totally support the removal of fuel subsidy; even though it is a bitter pill to swallow, it is better because it has brought so much corruption in the country.
``President Buhari is not corrupt; with the removal of subsidy and his character and personality, he will be able to fantastically cure this corruption disease.
``The global community knows that he is working hard to remove corruption in the country; we are in support of that and labour should also support the move.
``Though it will affect our customers and cost of businesses; prices will be up, but we believe it will be only one time and that will be final,’’ Akingbogun said.
He said that by the time the removal came to stay, everybody would adjust and everything would fall in place.
He said that if former President Goodluck Jonathan was allowed to remove the subsidy in 2012 ``we would have gone far and felt better by now’’.
He reiterated FTAN’s support on removal of fuel subsidy, adding that the money would be used to develop infrastructure in the country and make life better for all Nigerians.
``However, it is only when we have solid infrastructure that the country can grow and it is only when the country grows that tourism itself can thrive.
``The subsidy removal is a bitter pill that we must take now; but if labour forces them to revert back to subsidy, then that will be pushing the evil day ahead.
``That was what labour did in the last administration and the reason we are still in this situation; therefore, we have to do it differently,’’ Akingbogun said.
The FTAN President said that the former Central Bank Governor, now Emir of Kano, Malam Lamido Sanusi had repeatedly said there was corruption in fuel subsidy but labour refused to understand.
``If we truly want change; we should allow change to do it in a different way,’’ he said.
Chief Tomi Akingbogun, the President of FTAN made the position known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abuja.
Akingbogun said, ``we totally support the removal of fuel subsidy; even though it is a bitter pill to swallow, it is better because it has brought so much corruption in the country.
``President Buhari is not corrupt; with the removal of subsidy and his character and personality, he will be able to fantastically cure this corruption disease.
``The global community knows that he is working hard to remove corruption in the country; we are in support of that and labour should also support the move.
``Though it will affect our customers and cost of businesses; prices will be up, but we believe it will be only one time and that will be final,’’ Akingbogun said.
He said that by the time the removal came to stay, everybody would adjust and everything would fall in place.
He said that if former President Goodluck Jonathan was allowed to remove the subsidy in 2012 ``we would have gone far and felt better by now’’.
He reiterated FTAN’s support on removal of fuel subsidy, adding that the money would be used to develop infrastructure in the country and make life better for all Nigerians.
``However, it is only when we have solid infrastructure that the country can grow and it is only when the country grows that tourism itself can thrive.
``The subsidy removal is a bitter pill that we must take now; but if labour forces them to revert back to subsidy, then that will be pushing the evil day ahead.
``That was what labour did in the last administration and the reason we are still in this situation; therefore, we have to do it differently,’’ Akingbogun said.
The FTAN President said that the former Central Bank Governor, now Emir of Kano, Malam Lamido Sanusi had repeatedly said there was corruption in fuel subsidy but labour refused to understand.
``If we truly want change; we should allow change to do it in a different way,’’ he said.
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