N8,000 to 12m households like treating symptoms of hardship facing Nigerians – Prof Ikpeme

Prof Christine Ikpeme, a don of Food Science and Technology, University of Calabar, has said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proposed N8,000 palliatives to 12 million households will not address lingering economic challenges occasioned by fuel subsidies removal.

Ikpeme disclosed this on Friday in a Channels Television interview monitored by DAILY POST.

Her reaction stems from Tinubu’s administration’s plan to transfer N8,000 monthly to 12 million low-income households for six months as part of the N500 billion palliative funds approved by the House of Representatives.

The University don stated that the government’s planned approach is like treating the symptoms of the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

According to Ikpeme, the government should provide subsidized transportation infrastructure for Nigerians.

“The government is just treating the symptoms like giving an anaesthetic. N8,000 will not be able to facilitate the issue facing the Nigerian masses – increased food prices, transportation, school fees and other things.

“The government must have adequate infrastructure in place. There must be a public transport system that will take people from one place to another at a cheaper or discounted rate”, she said.

Recall that following the fuel subsidy removal, the pump price of petrol jumped from N197 to over N500 per litre. Consequently, transportation costs and the prices of goods, services had skyrocketed.