Falana Questions Fuel Subsidy Revenue Spending, Warns Against Return to 'Scam' Era
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Human rights lawyer Femi Falana has questioned how Nigeria's federal, state and local governments are spending the additional revenue from fuel subsidy removal, warning against a return to financial mismanagement.
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has questioned the benefits Nigerians have received from the removal of petrol subsidy, saying citizens have yet to feel the impact of the additional revenue accruing to all three tiers of government.
Speaking on Channels Television's Sunday Politics, Falana said Nigeria was generating more revenue from crude oil sales, while funds previously earmarked for fuel imports, about $10 billion annually, should have translated into savings or tangible benefits for citizens. He cited the poor condition of a road leading to Afe Babalola University in Ekiti State, questioning why the local government could not repair it despite receiving increased allocations of about N5.4 billion between January and May.
"If you say we are making more money, we don't want to go back to the era of the fuel subsidy scam. Where are the benefits?" Falana asked, calling on Nigerians to demand accountability from federal, state and local governments over how the increased revenues are being utilised.