The Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Stuart Symington, has advised the Federal Government to end the fuel subsidy regime to engender rapid development of the country.
Symington said this at an event to mark his country’s 243rd independence, The Cable reported on Tuesday.
He said fuel subsidy was costing “every Nigerian citizen more than they worth”, and should therefore be discontinued.
The ambassador further said that Nigeria’s development would be accelerated if women were empowered and power was given to the people.
Symington said, “You don’t need anybody to tell you what to do. It is very simple. Number one, don’t look to government and get rid of gasoline subsidies. They cost every Nigerian citizen more than they worth.
“Number two, educate and empower every girl and every woman so that Nigeria sees her future with two eyes and can grab it with two arms and not one.
“Number three, give power to the people. Put an electricity meter in every home and pay for what you get and tell the companies that you’re paying for what they deliver. But Nigeria knows all that and one other thing, that tonight and every other night, that every Nigerian is both a citizen and a subject. In Nigeria, there is one government but there are hundreds of servants.
“A great asset of Nigeria is for all those who lead and all the subjects they represent, to come together to make this nation one nation bound in freedom with peace and unity and in this process, you can count on the US for we believe in your ideas and we profoundly believe in you.”
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Sanusi II, has repeatedly called for an end to the fuel subsidy regime, saying it is bankrupting the nation.
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