Nigeria Homepage: Subsidy: NANS demands immediate probe of NNPC

Subsidy: NANS demands immediate probe of NNPC
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the punch on 13/01/2012 05:18:00

The National Association of Nigerian Students has demanded an immediate probe of
the activities of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation from 1999 till date.
This is just at it denounced violence being perpetrated by hoodlums, who
infiltrated the ranks of respected Nigerians engaged in peaceful demonstrations
against the removal of fuel subsidy.
The National President, NANS, Mr. Dauda Mohammed, who spoke at a press
conference in Abuja on Thursday, expressed shock at the level of fraud that had
characterised the fuel subsidy regime, adding that a few individuals had
defrauded Nigerians over the years and should be brought to book.
Mohammed said, “During our consultation/interaction with the President, Dr.
Goodluck Jonathan, and his economic team led by the Minister of Finance, Dr.
Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, sometimes in December 2011, our leadership was shocked by
revelations and statistics on the abuse of the petroleum subsidy policy and the
recurring corruption/ enrichment of few importers, incapacitation of local
refining capacity and the monopoly the system has fostered on the Nigerian
people.”
NANS, while calling for more dialogue to resolve the dispute, dissociated itself
from the violence and needless loss of innocent lives that had attended protests
in some parts of the country.
Mohammed said “Is it not worrisome that the situation in the country is headed
towards a religious and ethnic divide? Is it not ungodly that people have taken
advantage of the protests against subsidy removal to maim and kill in churches
and mosques?
“Some hide under the ambiance of the protest to loot and rob citizens of their
goods and property. NANS will no longer allow innocent youths to be killed under
any guise that requires debate and dialogue.”