 Yeah, good morning Nigeria. It's my pleasure to be here all right. So Mohammed Abadolahi, let's get straight to all of this now First we set off with the we're looking at our current reality as a country and some people would target as bad policies But others will say is there really a bad policy? Is there any policy that has been formulated that is bad? Or is the fact that you have policies that would not reflect the interest of the people or on the other hand policies are not Implemented at the end of a day This policies might just be categorized as bad policies now one of the things that's affecting us as a country As we speak now and it's the fact that the nation has been plunged into the field crisis situation And so petrol is curse Schesity of the commodity will also have reports saying that we have lost about 4.2 trillion Naira as a country because we have not met our quarter by OPEC and Petrol is also not sold at the rates. It should be 165 Naira per liter. We're looking at petrol sold above that particular price So now What do you make of this because if you look at also what happened just recently in Sri Lanka? It's not different from what's going on in Nigeria Where the people are dissatisfied from government promises that have failed and have not yielded any result Coincidentally, I would say incidentally When this new government came into power Particularly precedents one of his campaign point was that there was actually no subsidy in paid, you know to subsidize The price of a total product in Nigeria But on the assumption of our power I'm sure they realize that today the past government have been subsidizing particularly the price of PMS for Nigerians. And so hopefully they were not prepared for that subsidy It's the amount being budgeted for subsidy kept growing year in year out. In fact this year from January to This present day We are told very much that About 1.8 trillion Naira have been paid already For the subsidy of PMS petroleum products for Nigerians So one of the ways is this oh, I always like to give two options For me, I think we have gone past the the the era of petroleum subsets But if you look at the fact that we are in a dire situation in Nigeria, it's not only limited to Nigeria actually across the world When if you want if you ask the government to take away subsidies entirely at this moment that would be Increasing the pains of Nigerians and the challenges Nigerians face day in day out So What is the solution? The solution is simple It is simple because I feel and it is my opinion that if this present government for instance have kept to It's the promise of building at least one or two refineries every two years like it told Nigerians before Coming into power in 2015. We will have gone past these These challenges because the major challenge for us is that we produce crude oil We take it overseas. It is refined and we import PMS You understand so that is the major challenges that is taking away Our foreign reserve for instance in terms of US dollars. So I think the government has failed in that respect of making sure that our refineries even though if we are not building new refineries But we have four refineries across Nigeria and all of them are not producing a single drop of PMS That's a big challenge that in seven years or more of this current administration. We are unable to fix Revamp or at least build one more refinery. We are making a mistake that at this moment in time We are only back banking on The refineries being built particularly by Dan Boti You understand that might be a big challenge as well because if it comes on board It might become a monopoly and nobody when you have a monopoly The monopolies the state price You understand so it is also a big challenge. So I feel Mohammed Abdul Ahid, don't we still have you are on the line or even built more Challenge for us at the moment. So the subsidies we can't take it off because we increase the pains of Nigerians But but but in all of this you have talked about that it's actually a global issue, right? So if you say that there's a lot that's going on but not for a nation that is an oil producing For Africa you want to talk about it and the fact that you also have stated that Our inability to refine our product is also a concern Does not make it a global issue. I mean, that's not it. Is that what's obtainable in different climes? Some people have said that and we have seen it is just simple that the current conflict in or war You want to say in Russia and Ukraine should have a positive impact on Africa? Especially countries that are all producing and we should be benefiting at this point But that's not the case for us first We don't have the capacity to refine our products. And so we are left with the option of importing this product on the other hand We have failed on different occasion to meet the quota of OPEC Where does this leave all of us and what can the people do in all of this? Yes, what people can do is continue agitate but agitation I mean peacefully Continue to agitate continue to call on the authorities to do what is right What is right is what I've stated earlier Yes, the the crisis going on in Ukraine and Russia would have benefited Africa particularly Nigeria if we have put our acts together in the first place But you know, you agree with me as well that this administration is at its tail end And in fact, there is no time anymore to build a new refinery Yeah, I think the administration has less than 11 months or so So there is no time I think to build new refineries So what we'll continue to face the challenge because I like I mentioned earlier. We don't have the capacity to refine We again in security wise hampering our capacity to lift even could to the expectant of Meeting the quota of OPEC. So these are these are two different issues now We we need to sort out the security issues around the Niger Delta and even all other parts of the country to make sure that at least we're able to Lift the expected quota Located to Nigeria by OPEC And how do we do this is is making sure that we are able to to to man Our code properly. We ensure that it is the professionals and as and also the companies were Mandated to do these that are in charge because there's a whole lot of concrete going on They there's a whole lot of issues of our code not been accounted for so it's important that the the the Institution in charge the agency is stuck in charge Ensure that it is professional that are doing this job and the agencies and the companies that are mandated are also Doing it accordingly But for the 40 people We are we're a bit limited on what we can do what we can do is just like we continue to talk I am not in support of violent protests You make mention of Sri Lanka We saw that people got into their presidential palaces swimming in their presidential palace pool. In fact destroying Properties that will also be renewed and refurbished by taxpayers money You don't want to you don't want us to degenerate into such situation in Nigeria Because that will also be making us go backwards But what we can continue to do as people is to call on The agencies the government and the relevant institutions to do the right thing Well, just as we move away for the want of time will quickly just brush the issue of you know Poverty but before then you've talked about the need for building a new refinery because we don't have time and so So let's even assume that we had time we had it was we were ceiling to 2019 this government had talked about We not having any business and the refineries that would be very functional But I also remember that the TUC have accused this government of wasting 9.5 billion nair on You know turn around maintenance of our refineries for the past 10 years and in 25 years It's also been an accusation of this government wasting about 25 billion of the government now not the APC government or you know this administration, but we're talking about the government now in You know generally 25 billion nair Should we be talking about new refineries? What's wrong with the? Other refiners that we have why they're not functioning and so are we just going to just ignore We seem to be having some bit of an extra You know sound coming from your location. I'm hoping that you can put that in control just as we close this conversation down 25 you know billion nair this been Expanded 25 years or there about now Is there any need for us to be talking about new refineries when we have constantly chunked and resources to ensure that we have and we Call it turn around maintenance for our refineries. I mean what's really going on with Nigeria? What's going on with us now? I come quickly to the issue of poverty. It was reported in 2020 that 89.0 million persons were already in poverty in Nigeria now in 2022 we're looking at 95 persons 95.1 million persons who would be in poverty all of this what would the people do and We have seen that it's constantly people take to the streets of protests But that has not yielded any result because you have you know The government in some way when you have the police clam on the people in all the ways in other words It means there's a government. So How how do you explain all of this and how can Nigerians continue to cope? What can Nigerians do in? Situations like this or in a situation like this Well, I'm sure that we have last Yes The issue the issue of poverty. It's it's quite alarming like you like you mentioned But there are a number of reasons that that's alluding to to that alarming numbers of Of Poverty in Nigeria the the fact that the government is not thinking out of the box You know in creating enabling mind you government all over the all over the world cannot create Jobs for every of its citizens including Nigeria But I think what is important is creating the enabling environment For people to try For people to engage in their petty trade for people to engage in their small trade and and so on in Nigeria the major issues is The the issue of insecurity because as we speak Even the farmers in the remote locations Who have lived all their life in remote locations and are not willing to migrate to urban centers in Nigeria are prevented from going to Farm are prevented from carrying out a daily agricultural activities and you know that affects everybody You know it causes food shortage with the supply chain is Is distorted in terms of a food supply and Those who are able to leave those food from the remote situation a remote location Urban centers are also affected. So it's a chain reaction. What insecurity is a is a is causing in Nigeria For instance, I used to tell people That sometimes they go in 2018. I used to drive all the way from Lagos Niger state and even Kaduna and take my family's whenever is holiday is festivity period and we stay We stop by the road to buy food by other materials But now because I am not able to do that again I have stopped, you know that economic activities and in fact there are 100,000 of people who are unable to do that and that is causing that chain of economic activities to stop You understand. So that is the nature is in where we have a high level of of unemployment in Nigeria which translate into Poverty because in as much as you are unable to carry out your daily activities Which brings in money to pay your bills to to provide food and other basic necessities One falls into poverty. So these are the chains What do we do what we should do is that we must government have the biggest responsibility in In this area and what do I mean government need to find a way to tackle insecurity In fact, it is very challenging all over Nigeria, you know, if insecurity is tackled we will have leeway, we will have pathway for prosperity for many Nigerians I'm not saying that is the major reason for all, but that is the major reason that we need to tackle Mohammed Abdulahi, thank you so much for being part of the breakfast We appreciate your thoughts and the perspective you've brought in on the show. We look forward to having You share your thoughts Well, thank you so much We appreciate you as always we need to go on down because we're out of time But the question is that protests in Nigeria hasn't yielded any results And some people say even with the protests as it were peaceful It's actually been confronted with a lot and what should Nigerians do In a situation like this where the economy that's on the other side of the divide Well, it will be a question that will continue to beg for answers That's the size of our show this morning If you missed out on any part of it, it will be all right to follow us on Facebook, Twitter And Instagram, subscribe to our YouTube channel at Plus TV Africa Plus TV Africa Lifestyle, my name is Messia Bopo. Have a great morning and happy holiday