 In the last 30 days, Singapore has carried out a flurry of activities that should be economic, security, political, and the firmament of the country. A few minutes after swearing in, he completed the removal of the fuel subsidy by his predecessor, which the controversial fuel subsidy is gone. Yes, the statement was made on the inauguration day, which sent Nigerians into some form of commotion. Now, currently fuel prices jumped from between 488 Naira to 515 Naira per litre from 187 Naira, which was pre-May 29. President Tini will also sign the Electricity Bill and Students' Learned Bill into law. He abolished multiple exchange rates and opened the nation's borders that were shot by the immediate past president, Muhammad Ibrahim. He sacked security chiefs and replaced them with officers drawn from many jubilee school zones across the country. And many have given him poodles for taking courageous steps so far, and others have noted challenges ahead. And still, many have frowned at the anti-people actions. Yes, some said it's too early to assess him. Joining us to discuss this is Opponabel Inkotare. He is a public affairs analyst. It's so good to have you join us, Mr Inkotare. Good evening. Good evening, Marianne, and good evening, Nigerians. Interestingly, we've all sat and watched what's happened in the past 30 days, especially the very famous in Alteration Day. When we heard that statement, subsidy has gone, of course, like I did say in my opening. He threw a lot of Nigerians into a state of disarray, and as we all know, many said that it was a bit too early. Many said we should have waited. There could have been a plan before this statement was made. But the truth, as we all know, is that subsidy was already gone, whether we liked it or not. But let's look at the Bola-Metinbo administration so far. Let's start with some of the bills that he signed. Let's start with the electricity bill. What are the benefits of that bill that Mr. President has signed? I thought we were going to start with the subsidy, but probably we'll get back to that. We'll keep subsidy for the last. Okay. When you talk about the electricity bill, it's a welcome to say that. Because we've always had this excuse. I mean, the providers of electricity have always given us special reasons, reasons that might look real, but are not. You know, to tell us that the grid is down, there's all kinds of stories. But the bottom line is Nigerians are receiving them. And the most infernal aspect of it is the issue of estimated bill. You just, whether you use your electricity or not, whether you're in or out of the country, and then in a month, you bring something for you to pay. And once you don't, they disconnect. So we're subjected to all kinds of sufferings. And the decentralization is quite welcome. Because for example, Peter, as far back as 2004, five, already we had the gas power plant that was supposed to generate enough power for reverse. But the problem we had at that time was the distribution. And that was because of the existing law, as of that time, because the law made it only gave the federal government only the power to distribute. So even when it generates, you cannot distribute. I was the whole essence of generating when you cannot distribute. I remember that the then President, the Lucifer, the Lucifer, the one who came and commissioned the gas power plant. And it remained redundant. Because of the law, existing laws as of that time. Now the government office. And I said, of course, it was also a governor. When the government was a governor. But that is an office and it has decided to decentralize it, which is good. So you don't really blame if you really have to blame it, but you have to blame the governor's decision governments. If there's power out, now you blame your stupid government. So I agree. I think, for example, I expect us to have near constant power supply. I agree those equipment that the board and all those things would have gone grocery, but all you need to do is refurbish them and put them to use. So reverse states should have near power supply in the next maximum one year. Because they have to repair, maintain some of those equipment and some of the parts. In the next one year, I expect the state like reverse. There are other states that didn't even bother. They didn't bother as a result of the laws as of that time. Will now begin to consider certain of their power plants because they can now distribute. There's also another way of generating funds for the states. Watching actually go to the federal government will now get to the state. So it's another way of generating good revenue for the state. No state as we speak right now to complain of poor revenue anymore because electricity is what everybody depends on. Everybody uses electricity. And so you're going to generate revenue. All you can do is go into partnership with foreign countries, foreign companies. And so otherwise, if they don't do that and the electricity is elected, it's quite faulty. It will also stimulate crisis in the states. You know, this time around, the government is the people are closer to the governor. Or like before, where if you talk about power outage and the people are upset, they have to go to a manager. Most people are discouraged by that. Now the state and you don't have any justice whatsoever because you're also making money. The tariffs might be a little bit higher. It might be a little bit higher because you understand this this will be focused on making money for itself. So it might be a little bit like the almost for the Christmas kind of level. You know, you remember when the federal government was providing the electricity. Most Nigerians were paying little or nothing. When eventually the private sector came in, we started paying exorbitant prices. And most times they rubbed us off because we have been paying for electricity we never received. Now you get to the state that the handling will be better because you're closer to the people. We still to make a lot of money from it. But the state governments must also be very careful because once there is power outage that the people are not satisfied with the excuses they might have used. Of course there will be problems because that will be grubbing the citizens. Let's come to subsidy because of time. The subsidy removal situation has been a sore point for not just the average Nigerian but even the man who's at the top and even the elite. Simply cut across everyone. And you and I have experienced a few, you know, tightening of belts or further tightening of our belts because of the subsidy removal. Many have pointed fingers at Mr. President. But there are also those who are saying that subsidy had to go whether we liked it or not. And pushing it what I've been delaying doomsday. But let's look at, you know, the future of this. I've listened to many financial experts and business and economic experts who have said we might have to suffer in the interim for the good. But what is the possibility that the right people will be settled with the responsibility and they will not be any impunity looking again at our past and how things of this nature have been handled. Will we be certain there's something that will come out of this? Honestly, the removal of subsidy on the 29th of May is what I'll describe as leadership deformity and lack of a position of the Nigerian situation. It is a shame and a disgrace and highly unacceptable or subject to wind down that the nature tonight will not be able to remove subsidy for the very wrong reasons. There is no clear in the world that energy or patrol is not subsidized. I repeat, nowhere in the world. Nowhere. What they usually do is that's why foreign countries don't do with their taxes. Because they have to subsidize energy for the common man to have access to energy and for businesses to grow. Then the now tax sheet and that in foreign civilized clients, the invasion of tax is as criminal as committed murder. But it is that it does that the taxes they use to provide and maintain the energy you use and the energy you use. The problem is not subsidy. If I really talk of subsidy, you cannot even generate the precedence of the country. First and foremost, they said they know those that is a cartel and they know those that are involved in the cartel. That is what they said. But they failed to mention and expose those involved. You say, you know, and you allow them to carry on with the nefarious activities. That is eating and abetting. At the most cases are presidents and the ministers of petroleum. You can imagine on that for a solid years, they were paying NFC staff. Maintaining NFC structures. They did turn around maintenance. You are giving out money for turn around maintenance. That is why dirty was being maintained. The system remains comatose. Are you not eating and abetting? Are you not an accomplice? Because they are accomplices. And that is why they cannot, they could not name or shame. The problem has nothing to do with subsidy. It has to do with corruption in the system. For example, now you own a house. And then Robert comes into the house, steals everything and walks away. Rather than fortify your security. You say, let us close that house, lock that place up. That is not the best approach. That is not it. There are persons involved. Look at the sheep that left Nigeria. They would oil. The sheep had to be arrested and returned. Where are those involved? Because they are hobnobbing with the presidents. I always say president because the president is the minister for petroleum. Those involved in that, what happened? We have about 32, 34 oil wells. New Ruba Nui was the man made in charge of the committee that investigated it. Only 20 had the cover and whatever they call it. They just were just left. We budgeted money for metering of our pipelines. Nobody can even account for the billions or trillions we budgeted for the meeting of our pipelines. You have the minister for petroleum. Is it not their duty? Is it not incumbent on them to monitor? Because the money would have been released to the petroleum. And the petroleum is headed by the president. Why didn't you go and meet other people? Do you know how much you produce per day? We don't even know. That's been a question that has been asked over and over again. And we get all kinds of conflicting figures. That's also an issue that needs to be read. From a minister for state. We don't even know what you produce per day. If you don't know what you have, how do you know that they are stealing? And if you talk about what people are talking about, it's a disclosure. Rather than attacking you just to get it. Even military operatives have been arrested. For arresting. The governor has said this repeatedly. The former governor said he told the military men that came to visit a toxic colony. He told them that your boys are involved. A DPO was fully involved. All what is the ability to do, they transfer. Once you complain, they transfer. And they continue in their retire. They are promoted and retire. So the military is fully involved. The military cannot even investigate itself. Because your duty, your sentinel to ensure that these things don't happen. Your duty is to ensure protection. Are you fair to protect? That's why the boys are doing what they are doing. So how can you observe the ability? The problem is the corruption. The corruption in the system. That's why I'm coming back to the case of president. As we speak, it's not the petroleum minister. It's just marked one month in office. And I want to ask. As much as many have applauded months, many have also queries. You know, some of the positions that he has. Many have said that he is obviously. Yes, yes. But then I have a question. I want to pose to you. Now that we have a ball. I met pinnacles there and you have pointed, you know, succinctly that it is not subsidy. That is the problem. But it's corruption. It's what I'm at pinnacles. And I want to ask. As much as many have applauded months, many have also queried, you know, some of the positions that he's taken. Many have said that he is obviously. Well, I met the man to fight the corruption in the system, especially. Yes. Oh, yes. That is the. That is the function of the teacher of the suppression. But can he do the job? Can he do the job? He can do the job. But he's looking for an easy way out. First and foremost, you remove the subsidy. In fact, we are there, but I told patients. That I have a conviction that one of the reasons the president wants to move the subsidy was because he is going to benefit as an individual based on the confidence of the station. You don't benefit. That is my conviction. Because if you look at the subsidy. For example, let us agree. You want to move something. First you move. About a month earlier than. We had expected because president for my president. I said towards the end of June. Now you're saying that the other budgetary provision for the subsidy. How did we manage it? That make it. And I said end of June. So people are already preparing. A painful preparation. But that doesn't mean that you want to remove the subsidy. You have to have. At least some palliative. So the removal of that substance. Look at the domino effect. Many people have packed their cars they cannot afford. Those with filling stations. Those with generators. Because Nigeria would depend on generators. Those with generators cannot be packed anymore. Then the ripple effect. The cascading effect. The market human. Some can't even go to work again. As a result of that one or two states have declared public holidays. For two days you don't go to work. Three days. You can imagine. And now look at that will definitely have some negative effects on our economy. The five working days. Those who say you have to work for five. We're looking at productivity. Now you're moving three days. And you're still paying them. But you don't blame them because they cannot even afford it. So you're transferring your ineptitude to the masses. If you say you want to do subsidy. All you need to do is set up a committee. Think of the party. Now even when they say how deeply they are sorry. You're even talking of cars now. Taxes. You see there cannot be. I always tell you there cannot be a croeler tyranny than that. Because you don't want to assume that we won't. Every year you now go for renewal. Of ownership of your vehicle. Where will you get the money from? Children are dropping out of school. They are coming. They are depreciating. At this point in time. It's an area of issues that we have to. It's an area of issues that we need to continue to talk about. Unfortunately, Mr. Inca. I should tighten my belt. And why are you losing your belt? I can. I can tell. About this. But thank you. Let me make a promise. We will come back and have it. We will come back and have it. We will come back and have it. Let me make a promise. We will come back and have this conversation for a long time. Because this issue has to be addressed. We will go through it one way or another. But I want to say thank you. It's always a pleasure to have you discuss issues with us. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. That's the show tonight. Thank you all for participating. Don't forget to follow us on YouTube. Subscribe. on all of our different programs, even our previous episodes. My name is Mary Annakum. Have a beautiful evening. Good night.