Nigerian Baptist Convention laments hardship created by subsidy removal
Nigerian Baptist Convention has asked both the federal and state governments to expedite actions at implementing plans aimed at addressing negative effect of the removal of oil subsidy among Nigerians.
Speaking at a four-day retreat programme for about 37 conference presidents of the church, drawn from all parts of the country, in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital on Wednesday, the president Nigerian Baptist Convention and president All Africa Baptist Fellowship, Reverend Dr. Israel Akanji, lamented the effect of the removal of the oil subsidy removal among Nigerian masses.
Dr. Akanji, who said that the FG should operate palliative measure in such a way that the masses would benefit maximally, however, commended the FG for setting up a committee on salary review towards cushioning the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
The Baptist Church also asked President Bola Tinubu to repair the nation’s refineries as part of measures to cushion effects of removal of fuel subsidy.
He also described the move to increase workers salary by the Oyo state government as soothing.
The cleric, who said that benefits of oil subsidy was going to few individuals in the country before now, added that removal of the subsidy would make masses benefit.
“The FG should operate it in a way that the masses would benefit. And I believe, removal of the oil subsidy is a good start”, he said.
The President, All Africa Baptist Fellowship, who encouraged Nigerians to ride bicycles with the hike in transportation fares, also called on the federal government to import bicycles.
“The FG should import bicycles, reduce the cost of bicycles, construct separate bicycle way on our roads for Nigerians to be encouraged to ride bicycles. Surely, we’ll get to where we are going”.
He said that Baptist Church would continue to pray for the present administration and urged Nigerians to do so for the present administration to succeed.
“I have strong hope that this government would make things better for Nigeria. I believe in Nigeria: North, East, South and West. We’re all brothers and sisters. Christian Muslims we’re all one. And we should continue to work together as one. This is what we encourage our people to do so that Nigeria would be a great country. We could still love one another and not hate one another. The message to our people; let’s show love. If you want love, you show it. We hope Nigeria will be a better place.
Themed, Spirituality and Administration, Dr. Akanji said that the annual retreat aimed to sharpen spirituality skill of the conference presidents towards sustaining and improving upon their productivity for the workings of the Baptist Convention.
“They are both the spiritual and administrative leaders of the church. And the two roles of spirituality and administration have to go together for productive goals.
Also speaking, President Kwara Baptist conference, Reverend Dr. Victor Solomon Adebayo Dada, charged men of God to continue to pray for Nigeria, saying, “Our nation needs prayers”.
Dada also called on religious leaders from the two leading religions of Christianity and Islam in the country to reach out to their congregations, especially with the present situation created by the fuel subsidy removal.
He said that they should engage wealthy individuals in the religious homes to cushion the effect of the fuel subsidy removal, adding that they should not leave it to government alone.
“We desire a greater Nigeria and we pray God to help us achieve that. We also pray that God gives the present administration wisdom to manage affairs of the country well, better infrastructure, spirituality. And enablement to provide succour to Nigerians particularly on removal of fuel subsidy”.
He also prayed for success of the second term administration of the Kwara state government.
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