It is no doubt that as Nigerians, you're either part of the cheaters or you're the cheated. Allah emphasized the importance of trade and attribute punishments to fraud which today is legally done in Nigeria.

Today as Nigerians, we have no one to run to when we feel cheated! The government maybe handicapped with a well scripted fraudulent agreement that will either place the country in bondage or restrict the honey to a few throats.

The recent announcement of hike in PMS and Electricity bill have generate lots of commotions. When to some like myself, the increment in PMS price is not surprising as we (some of us) called for a total deregulation of the downstream sector.

When we talk of deregulation in a country where refinery workers consume billions without producing a litre of PMS, we are actually calling for an hike in price.

The only way to have a balance pricing is by making sure we refine the crude in our country which as of today is impossible. The rise in exchange rate is a factor to be considered.

Is the government doing anything? Yes, the government is doing something at least based on the information at our disposal.

The licensing of modular refineries is a nice way to go, although, Rome was not built in a day. It will take time before the effort of this present government will manifest not until when the refineries like Dangote refinery with capacity of 600,000bpd is operational, Edo modular refinery and others.

It is no doubt that this government has achieved what the previous governments failed to, but only time will tell.

ON THE ELECTRICITY.

I frown at the increment although nothing can be done. It is not funny that the electricity providers are legal robbers. They'll not supply us electricity but will never fail to bring estimated bills.

We called for prepaid metres, they won't supply. We hardly have 5 hours of electricity, even most times it will be available in the mid night when the poor Barber would've retired for the day. The Welder man would have left for home. So, how do you expect them to get money to pay you?

Thanks to the recent agreement signed between the Nigerian government and their Germany counterpart. We should pray and expect the Siemens's contract to yield the required result.

I'll leave the those who are making life unbearable for Nigerians with this verse of the Qur'an, as they are found of milking us but failed to provide adequate service.

Bismillah Hir Rahman Nir Raheem
In the name of Allah, The Most Gracious and The Most Merciful

وَيْلٌ لِلْمُطَفِّفِينَ

Wailul lil mutaffifeen
1. Woe to those who give less [than due],

الَّذِينَ إِذَا اكْتَالُوا عَلَى النَّاسِ يَسْتَوْفُونَ
Allatheena itha iktalooAAala annasi yastawfoon
2. Who, when they take a measure from people, take in full.

وَإِذَا كَالُوهُمْ أَوْ وَزَنُوهُمْ يُخْسِرُونَ
Wa izaa kaaloohum aw wazanoohum yukhsiroon
3. But if they give by measure or by weight to them, they cause loss.

أَلَا يَظُنُّ أُولَٰئِكَ أَنَّهُمْ مَبْعُوثُونَ
Alaa yazunnu ulaaa’ika annahum mab’oosoon
4. Do they not think that they will be resurrected

لِيَوْمٍ عَظِيمٍ
Li Yawmin ‘Azeem
5. For a tremendous Day –

يَوْمَ يَقُومُ النَّاسُ لِرَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ
Yawma yaqoomun naasu li Rabbil ‘aalameen
6. The Day when mankind will stand before the Lord of the worlds?

كَلَّا إِنَّ كِتَابَ الْفُجَّارِ لَفِي سِجِّينٍ
Kallaaa inna kitaabal fujjaari lafee Sijjeen
7. No! Indeed, the record of the wicked is in sijjeen.

وَمَا أَدْرَاكَ مَا سِجِّينٌ
Wama adraka ma sijjeen
8. And what can make you know what is sijjeen?

كِتَابٌ مَرْقُومٌ
Kitaabum marqoom
9. It is [their destination recorded in] a register inscribed.

وَيْلٌ يَوْمَئِذٍ لِلْمُكَذِّبِينَ
Waylun yawma-ithin lilmukaththibeen
10. Woe, that Day, to the deniers.

Akinbola Roqeeb T.