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By Milcah Tanimu

The founding Director General of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, is calling on the 36 state governors to take swift action in response to the severe hardship caused by the federal government’s removal of fuel subsidy.

Onaiwu emphasizes that the state governments can no longer solely rely on monthly allocations. Instead, he proposes that each state should deploy at least 200 buses to alleviate the exorbitant cost of daily transportation that commuters are facing within the state.

While the bus service will not be free, returning to the previous cost of transportation before the subsidy withdrawal could significantly ease the burden on the masses.

Onaiwu advises the governors to collaborate with indigenous and foreign vehicle manufacturing companies in Nigeria to achieve this goal, considering options such as gasoline, diesel, or electricity-powered public transit.

Emphasizing the potential of renewable energy-powered transportation, he states that it could open up new economic opportunities and position Nigeria as a significant player in cleaner energy research and transportation infrastructure.

By providing cheaper mass transit options, the burden on people’s shoulders can be lessened, benefiting the populace more strategically and economically compared to government cash transfers.

Onaiwu underscores the necessity of state government intervention to bridge the confidence deficit between the people and their leaders. Acting on this advice can lead to reduced hardship and improved trust between citizens and their individual state leaders.