let me state my position first. i am in support of the fuel subsidy removal, under the right conditions. infact, there shouldn't be any subsidy on fuel in the first place, considering we are an oil produing country and amajor one at that. which begs the first question:

-why has our government put the cart before the horse by removing the subsidy before fixing the refineries and getting them to run at full capacity? there would be no need to import fuel, at least on such a large scale, if our local refineries ran at full capacity.

-what happens to locally refiined fuel? will it be sold at the new N140 per litre price? if yes, then why, coonsidering there are no importation costs? if not, then at what price will it be sold and how will it be sold at a different price from imported fuel?

-we keep on hearing tales of sarifice and future benefits- why is it the citizenry that have to make sacrifices? why don't our leaders lead the sacrifice procession, by slashing their jumbo salaries by at least half? what exactly are they giving up and how will this subsidy removal negatively affect them as it is obvious how it is negatively affecting the Nigerian populace?

-we hear of how "in the near future" we will see the benefits of the subsidy removal; what happens to those who could barely get by before the subsidy removal now that the prices of goods and services have pretty muuch doubled? should they just sit in a corner and die? what gives ouur governmment the impression that that time is a luxury everyone can afford?

-why should we trust this government? they've been in power for nearly a year and still don't have a track record of performing. wasn't it beaf that said that the trains have returned? how come am yet to see one, how much more ride in one?

-1,600 buses? 43 per state? did our government do any calculations at all? did they take into consideration the transport and traffic stats for individual states? did they consider that a state like Lagos sees more commuters per day than, say, jigawa state? how come both states get the same number of buses?

-the so called palliative measures, how come they weren't worked out BEFORE the subsidy was removed? how come all we've heard are 1,600 buses? will the buses fuel people's generators, cool their fridges or buy their foodstuff cheap?

-these same palliative measures, where will the money for implementing them come from? last i remember, there was no provision in the 2011 or 2012 for "palliative measures". from whose pockets will the money for the 1,600 buses come from?

these are just a few of the numerous questions that have plaguued my mind since the announcement of this subsidy removal. you can add your own if you have any and proffer answers if you have any. oh, a question for beaf and his ilk who call others leecches;
whose job is it to provide cheap fuel, electricity and national security; the federal government or the state/local governments?