Fuel Subsidy Removal in Nigeria: Socio-Religious and Value Implications Drawn from the Theistic Humanism of Professor Dukor

Chinyere T. Nwaoga, K. C. Ani Casimir

Department of Philosophy, Institute of African Studies, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Department of Religion, Centre for Entrepreunenal Research, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/ojpp.2013.31A039                

Abstract

Nigeria is a country blessed with abundant human and material resources. Pre-independent Nigeria had agriculture as the major foreign exchange and revenue earner. Other alternative revenue earners such as agricultural and mineral resources were explored and their proceeds used to support and foot the bill of government expenditures. Immediately the first oil field was discovered in 1956 at Olobiri in the Niger Delta, other alternative sources of revenue for Nigeria were abandoned and crude oil became the determinant of Nigeria’s mono-economic status and the sole basis of all socio-economic transaction within and outside the country. The issue of appropriate pricing of petroleum products and the removal of government’s subsidy on petroleum price became a thorny controversial public policy issue. Successive governments, including the current President, have grappled with this problem of whether to remove the subsidy or not, without coming to a publicly endorsed solution to the debate. The last fuel subsidy removal on 1st January, 2012 sparked an uprising that almost led to a revolution. The thrust of the study is to examine the causes of the fuel subsidy removal, to identify the benefits of fuel subsidy removal, to describe the effects of the subsidy removal, and the socio-religious implications of the removal of fuel subsidy to the citizens of Nigeria. It is in the context of these socio-religious that one discovers the relevance of Professor Dukor theistic humanism and its implied need for African values to be applied to governance in the 21st century. The debate surrounding the subsidy removal and the subsidy scam running into trillions of Naira of stolen funds by independent marketers of petroleum products revolve around corruption and a bad commentary about how ethical African vales have been removed from public governance and the management of public resources. After pointing out these socio-religious implications for the Nigerian ethical and value re-orientation, the paper went ahead to recommend some ways of managing the subsidy money for the development of the country.

Keywords

Theistic Humanism; African Values; Socio-Religious Implications; Corruption; Subsidy Removal; Scam; Benefits; Effects

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	Achebe, C. (1983). The trouble with Nigeria. Enugu: Fourth Dimension Publishers.
[2]	Adeola, A. (2012). Aderinola. URL (last checked 12 July 2012). http://Wordpress.com
[3]	Afonne, E. (2011). Politics of oil subsidy: The cartels fraudulent acts. News World, 24 October.
[4]	Ahmaddiya, A. C. (2012). Ahmaddiya decries fuel subsidy removal. The Guardian, 5 January 2012, 13.
[5]	Akhine, et al. (2012). The Guardian, 5 January 2012, 4.
[6]	Akinloye, L. (2012). Gone for good. Nigeria Fuel Subsidy, January 2012, Article 4.
[7]	Boko, H. (2012). 3 days ultimatum from their leaders. PM News, Published 3 January 2012.
[8]	Chuta, S. C. (2004). Corruption in Nigeria. Nsukka: Afro-Orbit Publishers.
[9]	Daily Sun Newspaper (2012). 9th July 2012, 2.
[10]	Dukor, M. (2010). African philosophy in the global village: Theistic panpsychic rationality, axiology and science. Brussels: LAMBERT Academy.
[11]	Ewuim, N. C. (2004). Theory and practice of community and rural development. Onitsha: Rex Charles and Patrick Ltd.
[12]	Ezeani, E. O. (2012). Delivering the goods. Nsukka: University of Nigeria Nsukka.
[13]	Igwe, S. C. (2010). How Africa underdeveloped Africa. Port Harcourt: Professional Printers.
[14]	Isah, A. (2009). Sultan cities hunger, poverty in Jos crisis. The Fulani Cattle Breeders, the Insider, Magazines, June 15.
[15]	Ituma, E. A. (2008). The significance of christian youth development in eradicating corruption in Nigeria (pp. 41-52). In C. O. Ugwu (Ed.), Luke: Nsukka Journal of Religion Studies.
[16]	Lawson, A. (2012). The mace voice of democracy. Fuel Subsidy Removal: The Challenge before House Committee on Petroleum Down- stream. Punch Newspaper on 18th March 2012.
[17]	Mbiti, J. S. (1969). Africa philosophy and religion. The York: Praeger.
[18]	Newsdiaryonline.com/illegal removal (2010). Campaign manifesto for presidential election, 18th September 2010.
[19]	Newspaper (2012). Published on 4th July.
[20]	Obasa, F. (2012). Fuel subsidy removal. The Arguments and paths to progress, -Nigeria-oil-and-Gas monthly, URL (last checked 23 February 2012). http/www.nigerianonlinegas.com/pg=769
[21]	Obasi, N. K. (2003). Foreign participate in the Nigeria oil and gas industry. URL (last checked 26 December 2011). http://www.onlinenigeria.com/links/adv.asp?Blurb=493
[22]	Okereke, R. (2012). Business services industry watch. The Guardian.
[23]	Onajemo, O., Collins, O., Nkechi, O., & Abosed, M. (2012). Fuel subsidy removal not to punish Nigerians says FG. Abuja: Punch.
[24]	Onoho, B. E. (2012). Many imponderables of petroleum subsidy. Guardian Newspaper, 8 January 2012.
[25]	Onoho’Omhem, E. (2012). Subsidy and security palaver. The guardian, 8 January 2012.
[26]	Ori, O. (2012). Railwaste, 28 January 2012.
[27]	Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary (1990). 123.
[28]	Peace and Conflict Monitor (University for Peace) (2012). Nigeria fuel Subsidy Removal and National Crisis by Fatima Kyari Mohammed.
[29]	Raymond, G. (2012). Subsidies and sufferings in Nigeria: Exploring conflict-sensitive economic policy in Fragile State, United States Institute for Peace. URL (last checked 16 January 2012). http://inec.usip.org/blog/2012/jan/16/Subsidies-and-Suffering-Nigeria- Exploring-Conflict-Sensitive-Economic-Policy-Fragile
[30]	Sachs, J. S. (2012). Nigeria hurtles into a tense crossroad. New York Times. URL (last checked 10 January 2012). http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01
[31]	Shed, F. (2011). Fuel subsidy removal: The government vs the people. URL (last checked 14 December 2011). http://www.nigeriavillagesquare.com/Guest-articles/fuel-subsidy-removal-the-government-vs-the-people
[32]	Son, G. (2011). Nigeria: The case against removal of fuel subsidy and the argument for deregulation petroleum subsector. URL (last checked 26 December 2011). http://www.awarenessfordevelopment.org/index.php?option=comcontent&view=article&id=66:Nigeria-fuel-subsidy
[33]	Ugochukwu, O. C. (2012). The implications and alternatives to fuel subsidy removal. Vanguard Newspaper, 9 January 2012.
[34]	www.Wikipedia.com/standard of living
[35]	Yields on Fuel Subsidy (2012). Financial times. http://www.ft.com/tt/cons