While the removal of the fuel subsidy in Nigeria has had serious economic challenges for citizens, it’s interesting to realize that this same subsidy removal has had some advantages for Nigerians as well.
Most Nigerians might not be quick to realize this, but the reality is that the economic disadvantage of the subsidy removal on citizens brought about a move towards an environmental advantage. Yes, that was said!
But how true is that statement?
The Harsh Reality of the Fuel Subsidy Removal on Nigerians
Well, the fuel subsidy meant more Nigerians were able to afford the amount or size of fuel they needed for their vehicles and other equipment that relied heavily on petrol. However, with the removal and the price of fuel in the country selling between N600/ per litre to N700/ per litre, this means many Nigerians cannot afford as much quantity of petrol they need as they could in the past.
Environmental experts note that the environmental consequence of Premium Motor Spirit A.KA petrol is the increase in carbon emission which harmfully impacts the environment. One of the ways carbon is emitted into the environment is through the fumes that come out of a vehicle’s exhaust.
Ironic Positive Impact of Fuel Subsidy Removal?
Interestingly, the increased price of petrol has meant that most Nigerians will have to cut back on how often they drive their cars, reduced road traffic in some cities and towns, reduced air pollution caused by fuel fumes from cars, as such, adding some percentage to the decrease in carbon emission.
Another way the fuel subsidy removal is gradually impacting our environment is that the government and more Nigerians are beginning to consider environmentally friendly alternative fuel sources like CNG.
Is the Environmental Impact of Subsidy Removal Sustainable?
In the past weeks, a series of online videos have surfaced showing Nigerians who have started going the CNG route by converting their petrol engines to gas engines so that their vehicle could use CNG for operation instead of the regular fuel that’s ridiculously expensive.
While most Nigerians embarking on this route are merely doing it to reduce the cost of fueling their vehicles, as CNG sells at about N100/ per litre, the reality still is that this move has brought about a positive environmental impact. How long it’ll last will be determined by whether or not the price of fuel goes down.
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