Nigerian singer Cynthia Morgan, now known as Madrina, has called on President Bola Tinubu to take urgent action to alleviate the worsening hardship in the country.
In a video message shared on her TikTok page, Madrina admitted that she was among those who initially supported Tinubu’s decision to remove the petrol subsidy. However, she lamented that the economic situation has since become unbearable for many Nigerians.
She urged the president to introduce measures that would cushion the effects of the subsidy removal and provide relief to struggling citizens.
Speaking in a video message shared via her TikTok page recently, Cynthia Morgan said:
“Are you guys feeling what I am feeling? I’m not even going to lie, I’m feeling it o! And it’s quite unfortunate that we might not be able to do much other than plead with the government. Because spending over $8 billion on subsidy doesn’t make any sense.
“From my findings, the total annual revenue for Nigeria in 2023/2024 was around 20-something billion dollars. So imagine spending $7 billion on subsidized petroleum products. It doesn’t make any sense.
“I was one of the persons who applauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the removal of the fuel subsidy because you know what it is. But currently, I don’t think we have what it takes to live totally off subsidy removal on petroleum products.
“We don’t have the structures or anything to be able to sustain that. And that is why there’s inflation. The price of petrol controls 90 percent of every other commodity in the market. Also, the exchange rate of the Naira to the dollar has increased because what we import is higher than what we export. Right now, the GDP per capita is $860.
“We are going to be begging [the government]. I don’t think we have the right to protest or insult anyone in government. The introduction of the subsidy on petrol started with former President [Olusegun] Obasanjo, which for me was lackadaisical because, as a president, you’re supposed to handle things head-on and not try to… I can’t remember the word right now.
“So, that’s what President Tinubu is trying to do. He is trying to approach it the way it is. Because the money that we spent on subsidized PMS is a lot—enough to do many things. If we are able to invest it in other areas of the country, we will be a better nation. I don’t think it’s a bad idea, but we are not ready. We can’t do it. 100 percent subsidy removal will not work. People are hungry. Crime rates are increasing.
“But please, let’s not rant. Let us do a begging challenge. Let’s beg the government to help us, that they shouldn’t be angry. Maybe we have been irresponsible. Let the government roll back at least 50 percent of the subsidy removal. That’s my stance,” Cynthia Morgan added.
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cc: Daily Post Ng
