Rt. Rev. Olubunmi Akinlade, Diocesan Bishop of Ife, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, has urged President-elect Bola Tinubu to halt the importation of petroleum products following his inauguration on May 29.
Akinlade made the call during the third session of the 11th synod of the Diocese of Ife, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) with the theme, ‘From personality to an institution – Jacob’s encounter at Bethel,’ at the Cathedral Church of St. Philip, Ayetoro, Ile-Ife, Osun State.
He asked Tinubu to privatize the nation’s refineries in order to assure gasoline availability in the country.
The bishop also advised the President-elect to be bold in making clear decisions and going after enemies of the country, stressing that challenges like the economy, insecurity, epileptic power supply, unemployment, poor health care, and others must be addressed.
He said, “As far as the refineries are concerned, I am a strong advocate that they should be privatized because the refineries have staff (members) who are being heavily paid, yet our refineries aren’t functioning optimally.
“Why can’t we privatize them and allow investors to run them as a business? If all the refineries are working, we have no business importing fuel. That bold step of privatizing refineries has to be done, it is inevitable.
“The fuel subsidy is shrouded in mystery. First and foremost, I don’t believe Nigerians consume the number of litres they claim we consume daily. I don’t believe we are using that much.”