Clark Urges Tinubu to Declare State of Emergency on Food Crisis
By Henry Umoru
Chief Edwin Clark, a former Federal Commissioner for Information and prominent South-South leader, has urged President Bola Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency on the food crisis, citing widespread hunger and discontent among Nigerians.
Speaking at his Asokoro residence in Abuja, Clark highlighted the growing distress in the country during a visit from the President of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi, and his delegation.
Clark addressed the recent protests by Nigerians, emphasizing their right to express discontent, noting that Tinubu himself led similar protests against former President Goodluck Jonathan over fuel subsidy removal.
While he acknowledged that Tinubu should not be solely blamed for the removal of fuel subsidies, as the budgetary provision for them ended in June 2023, Clark advised the government to implement practical measures to alleviate poverty, recognizing the severe impact of the subsidy removal on Nigerians.
“Oil subsidy is a significant issue in Nigeria. It’s not unique to our country, but mismanagement and poor leadership exacerbate the problem. We eventually realized that the oil subsidy was a scam, which is why Jonathan’s administration removed it in January 2012,” Clark said.
He also pointed out that, during the 2023 presidential campaign, all major political parties discussed the need to remove subsidies. He further criticized the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), stating that its implementation has been hindered by poor leadership since its hurried passage two years ago.
Earlier, HOSTCOM President High Chief Benjamin Tamaranebi called on the federal government to address the recurring fuel scarcity in the country. He criticized International Oil Companies (IOCs) for allegedly obstructing the Dangote Refinery’s access to crude oil for local refining.
Tamaranebi expressed frustration over Nigeria’s continued reliance on imported refined petroleum products, despite being the second-largest oil producer in Africa with four refineries. He attributed the recent fuel scarcity to marketers’ refusal to import petrol due to significant debts owed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).
He urged the Tinubu administration to prioritize the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt, Warri, and Kaduna refineries, ensuring they operate at full capacity. Additionally, he called on the government to compel IOCs in the Niger Delta to sell crude oil to the Dangote Refinery and other local refineries in Naira, a move he believes would reduce the country’s dependency on imported petroleum products.
“By producing locally, the price of petrol will decrease, which in turn will reduce inflation and alleviate the hardship in the country, allowing the prices of essential goods like fufu, rice, and garri to come down,” Tamaranebi concluded.
