Lagos lawmakers and the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), have reacted to the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government, describing it as ill-timed and a painful pill.

While the lawmakers criticised it as unsuitable for now, the APBN called for the diversification of the country’s economy to cushion the hardship the subsidy removal would cause Nigerians.

Mr Segun Olulade, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Information, told The Tide that the removal should be differed in view of the security challenges facing the country.

“The fuel subsidy removal is not suitable at this critical period when Nigeria is facing serious security challenges.

“Some Nigerians are still nursing the wounds of bombings in some parts of the country; the President should take it easy with Nigerians, particularly at this celebration period.

“He should not add sorrow to the joy of many Nigerian celebrating the New Year,’’ he said.

Olulade said the old price regime should still hold sway since, according to him, the National Assembly has yet to ratify it.

“ Before embarking on the removal of the subsidy, necessary things should have been put in place,’’ the assemblyman added.

Another lawmaker, Mr Bolaji Yusuf (Mushin I) advised the government to address security challenges across the country.

“Removing the subsidy without finding solutions to threats to lives and property may not work,’’ he told The Tide.

Yusuf condemned the violence unleashed on the country by an Islamic sect, Boko Haram, saying killing of innocent souls particularly, during a church service on Christmas Day in Mambila, Niger, is callous.

He stressed: “The government should find urgent solutions to the menace caused by Boko Haram at this period and leave the subsidy for now”.

According to him, no foreign investor will stake his money where security of life and property are not guaranteed.

Yusuf, however, appealed to Nigerians not to take the laws into their hands in a bid to avenge the deaths of the innocent souls.

The President of APBN, Mr Segun Ajanlekoko, said the government should be proactive by putting in place measures that would alleviate the sufferings of the ordinary people.

He said the action might cause inflation and increase cost of production and unemployment.

“The Nigerian economy should be diversified. Agriculture should be promoted in all schools, colleges and universities, especially the faculties of agriculture.

“These institutions should be given annual targets of agricultural products production based on the local agricultural climates,” Ajanlekoko said in a statement.

He advised the government to engage unemployed graduates and school leavers in farming at all tiers of government.

“This will not only promote food sufficiency, but also generate revenue through food export,’’ he said.