THE major problem we have in this country is corruption. It is corruption that the made the existing refineries to remain moribund. Every now and then, government continued to make fund available for turn around maintenance and the refineries would still remain the same after spending so much on turnaround maintenance. They can still not be able to work up to full capacity. So, what is our problem'The so-called cabals are the ones who did not want refineries to be built or work in Nigeria.We have told the president that he cannot fight the cabals by removing fuel subsidy immediately. Why don't we send those that are suppose to be sent to jail to jail' That is the only way. This will defiantly scare away those who are planning to join the cabal.Just imagine if what happened in the banking sector is allowed to happen in the petroleum sector' There will be a lot of fight. I think it is one of the ways to deal with the problem is to build refineries.Building of refineries is not a difficult thing to do. After all, there were some guys in the Niger Delta who built illegal refineries, which were sealed up by the Joint Military Task Force.About 1,132 illegal refineries were sealed up recently. If some guys can build illegal refineries, what is stopping Nigeria from having at least one refinery that could produce up to full capacity' Why is it that they are waiting for subsidy removal before planning to build refineries'I remember that during the Biafra war, Biafra was refining petrol, they were not importing. It will be a shame that Niger Republic would import Nigerian crude and refine and export to Nigeria, while we are swimming in corruption. I rather die than be alive to see that day.Nobody is saying he should not fight corruption that corruption should continue. We are also helping the president to fight corruption. This is what those who are advising government do not understand. We are helping him to fight corruption.We have done some calculations; Nigeria produces about 2.4 million barrels of oil per day. If you multiply the numbers of barrels by the current crude oil price of $150 per barrel, it runs into billions of naira. The budget of the federal government is just about N4.3 billion. So, we begin to ask, 'if you say you need more money to fix the economy, build hospitals, schools, roads, what is going to happen to the difference between the budget and the crude oil earnings' So, why would Nigerians be suffering the second time, this is our cry.We are fully in support the strike action. We have viewed and review the process that led to the nationwide strike. As an ally in this process, we have discovered that the policy is wrong. In terms of process, timing, procedure and setting, the policy is wrong.Why are we saying all these' If you look at the issue in question, is a matter that has been with the national assembly. The parliament has the right of oversight function according to the constitution. Section 88 of the constitution gives the parliament the right to over see all of the issues concerning government, concerning policies, to ensure that they are in the right standing. Now, if you marry this, the oversight function in terms of appropriation, you will understand that the government has only sent the 2012 budget to the National Assembly.The report coming to us was that the 2011 budget would continue until March because of the issues surrounding subsidy, that the subsidy was now met to be announced in April, then all of a sudden; it was slashed on Nigerians on the first of January. A lot of people who travelled to one place or the other were trapped. So, nobody ever dreamt of this.Even if the policy was right, even if has already been concluded, even if there were consultations, though there was no consultation, the timing was absolutely out of this world.If this government is government that cares for the people, if the government, which we all voted for would turn around and do this, there must be enough things hidden under the table, which our eyes cannot see.So, it is not very clear where the government is heading. We have not been told how much have been spent and how much is been spent on subsidy. It is not exactly clear yet because we have heard about several version of it.Nigerians have not been also told where this money is going to if it comes back. Nigerians have not been told what will happen to the people who collected this money and those that have spent it, what will happen to them. We have not been told, a lot of issues concerning lack of transparency in the oil management system. We have not been told also why Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation should be a regulator, a liaison and player in the oil industry. We have not been told why the petroleum industry bill has not been passed into law. So, where are we' You cannot be going to class four when you are yet to do class three. If you do that, you will have to come back to repeat the class three. That is what we are doing right now. We want government to come back to N65 per litre.I have addressed Nigerian traders to be patient and fight this fuel subsidy removal. We have done some calculations. Now the question is we have had series of occasion when fuel price was increased and the traders have not gained anything from it. In my opinion, it is better we suffer once and for all. That is the idea. We have to tell the government what we want. This is a democratic dispensation for Christ sake. This is the government of the people for the people and by the people. We have had complaint from traders that the labour would still earn their salaries at the end of the strike unlike the traders who make living from their daily transactions. It is good that we are aware that the labour is not fighting for themselves, but for every Nigerian.Ukaoha is the President of National Association of Nigerian Traders.
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