Chinyere Almona

 

The Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry  (LCCI), Dr. Chinyere Almona, has lauded President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s decision to eventually remove fuel subsidy, insisting that no time would ever be right to do so.

 

 

Almona was reacting to claims in some quarters, about the new administration not waiting for the right and appropriate time before taking the decision.

 

Insisting that  no time would ever be right to take such decision,  the LCCI boss argued that the delay in taking the decision in the past, had  cost the nation humongous amount of money; since it was obvious that the subsidy regime was not being properly managed.

 

“If we were to wait for the best approach, we probably wouldn’t get it done.  We would just talk and talk, but no solutions, and everybody would forget it, as we used to in the past.

 

“Unfortunately, our indecision was costing the nation humongous amount of money. We were bleeding, and we needed to stop it fast. The debate of whether he should have done it on the first day, or wait a little bit longer, I don’t know. But that’s his style. The point is, it must be done, and it has been done,” she added.

 

Speaking on the effects on businesses, especially those of members, Almona noted that though members are, expectedly, feeling the heat of the policy, since the policy is taking its tolls on their daily operations, she however argued that the measure has become imperative to save the economy from total collapse.

 

While calling on the federal government to urgently provide palliatives for businesses and individuals in the country, the LCCI DG, however, advised on the need for businesses to begin to look inwards and be creative, to enable them survive the trying economic times.

 

“I don’t think it will be right to put our hands on our heads and say ‘prices have gone up now, we are all dead’. We can get creative.  We have to begin to look inward. That’s the only way we can sustain ourselves,” she added.