Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem, an Ibadan-based property merchant, has urged the federal government to take action to ease the hardship caused by the removal of petrol subsidy. In a press release in Ibadan, he suggested the government should implement an efficient mass public transport system with natural gas-powered buses to counter the rise in transport fares.
Kazeem stressed that a well-functioning public transportation system, similar to those in developed and developing countries, is essential for relieving the burden on Nigerians. He recommended using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses as a cost-effective alternative with cheaper fuel consumption.
In addition, he called for the introduction of intermodal, regional, and national transport systems to facilitate smoother movement across the country.
Kazeem expressed discontent over the planned allocation of seventy billion naira to the National Assembly, considering it anti-Nigerian and disrespectful. He criticized lawmakers for their insensitivity to the struggling economy and called for a reduction in their salaries and allowances to show commitment to the nation.
He also urged state governors and local government chairmen to follow suit in reducing their salaries. Kazeem emphasized the importance of credibility and integrity among Nigeria’s leaders, urging them to consider the nation’s economic situation.
Furthermore, Kazeem urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to import commodities in large quantities to reduce inflation, alleviate hunger, and ease tension in the country.
Regarding recent tuition fee hikes in schools, he called on the federal government to review and cap the fees at sixty per cent, taking into account the economic situation in the country.
Kazeem cautioned the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) not to be a distraction to the federal government and advised them not to become tools for opposition political parties.
Despite mixed reactions from Nigerians, Alhaji Sufianu Kazeem has expressed support for President Tinubu’s policy and called for patience from the Nigerian people with the government.
