The Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM) has urged the Federal Government to take urgent steps to forestall economic hardship occasioned by the recent increase in pump price of petrol.
The President of NIM, Dr Christiana Atako, made the call in a statement by the institute’s registrar, Mrs Taiwo Olusesi in Lagos.
Atako said that it was important to mitigate the harsh effects of the latest increase in the price of fuel on both the economy and Nigerians.
She said that the long fuel queues that resurfaced in various cities had attendant consequences on Nigerians whose cost of living was shrinking by the day.
“The Institute supports the current efforts by the Federal Government to kick-start the nation’s weak economy and put it on a good footing.
“However, NIM is an organisation committed to promoting good governance and sound management practices.
“We believe that government should do everything within its power to give the nation’s economic policies a human face,” she said.
The NIM president urged the Federal Government to continue working with the greater interest of Nigerians at heart by taking more proactive measures to impact the welfare of the citizenry.
She called on government to, especially, address fuel scarcity, the hunger in the land, as well as tackle the myriad of economic issues facing the country.
“The Institute concedes that the decision to remove fuel subsidy has come with some pains,.
“It is, however, a necessary step towards the nation’s economic stability as it will help to curb the mismanagement of scarce resources
“It will also reduce corruption in the oil sector, and ensure that the benefits of government spending are felt by all Nigerians.
“Since the removal of subsidy is a difficult decision with significant impact on the masses, it is essential that the Federal Government implements measures to mitigate its effects,” she said.
Atako suggested measures like providing a safety tax net for those who would be most impacted by the subsidy removal, greater government intervention in agricultural produce, public transportation and youth employment programmes.
She also enjoined Nigerians to be patient with the Federal Government, and called for more understanding.
She said that the NIM believed that the nation would soon turn the bend and start reaping the benefits of the present sacrifices.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has destroyed over 100,000kg of cannabis spread across 51 hectares of farm land in Ekiti State.
This is contained in a statement by the Director, Media and Advocacy NDLEA, Mr Femi Babafemi yesterday, in Abuja.
Babafemi said that NDLEA operatives supported by men of the Nigerian Army on Tuesday Sept. 3 and Wednesday Sept. 4 stormed three camps inside the Ise-Ekiti forest reserve, in Ise/Orun Local Government Area of the state.
He named the affected areas to include: Aba Saalaja with 23 hectares; Aba Paanu with 12 hectares and Aba Arogunmatidi with 16 hectares, all within Ise-Ekiti forest reserve.
He also said two suspects: were arrested on the Toro-Jos road, Kaduna with 305kg cannabis (Indian hemp) concealed in false compartment of a J5 boxer bus marked YLA 682 XM.
Babafemi said that another suspect was arrested in possession of 18 kilograms of same substance at Makarfi town.
“Two other suspects others: were arrested on the Zaria- Kaduna highway in possession of 1300 tablets of Tramadol, all same day,”he said.
Also, in Jigawa state, a 30-year-old man was nabbed with 32.6kg of cannabis (Indian hemp) at Koran Shehu.
Babafemi said that operatives in Kogi intercepted 77,300 pills of Tramadol, Diazepam and Exol-5 with 1,230 bottles of Codeine in a commercial bus driven by Attai Okolo, 68, along Aloma – Ejule road, Ofu LGA, Kogi.
“Another was nabbed on the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja expressway with 42.400kg cannabis (Indian hemp) coming from Lagos enroute Kano.
“NDLEA operatives in Borno arrested a 40-year-old man at Ramat area of Maiduguri with 13,100 pills of Tramadol.
“Also, operatives in Kano nabbed a man with 25.8kg cannabis and 3,000 pills of Diazepam along Kano – Daura road,”he said.
The NDLEA spokesman said that no fewer than 87,790 pills of Tramadol were recovered from Musa Adamu, 30, when he was arrested in Zing, Taraba state.
Babafemi said that a raid on the home of a drug kingpin, Mayowa Abayomi Awe (a.k.a Bishop) in Ilesa, Osun state led to the seizure of 43grams of crack cocaine, 23grams of Methamphetamine, 17.126kg cannabis and a locally made pistol.

The Supreme Council for Sim Worldwide has been inaugurated in Eleme Local Government Area of Rivers State.
Inaugurating the Eleme Chapter of the council on Saturday at Aleto Primary School Field, the Convener, Mr Joshua Fubara said the good works of Governor Fubara should be preached in all nooks and crannies of the area.
Fubara noted that the essence of the group is to galvanise grassroots support for the Rivers State Governor, and urged his group to let the masses know that Governor Fubara has been changing the narrative in the state.
He hinted that by the grace of God, the new dawn Rivers people are witnessing, courtesy of Governor Fubara will continue.
“Stand up to the obligation of galvanising grassroots support for Governor Fubara. Reach out and convince the masses on the good works Governor Fubara has been doing. Let us tell those who feel that without Wike, nothing can happen in Rivers State. Let them know that it is a new dawn. Governor Fubara is changing the narrative for the good and interest of the masses”, he said.
In his remarks, the Supreme Co- Chairman of the group, Amb.Oji Ngofa called on his people to work for the success of the Governor Fubara administration.
Amb. Ngofa, former Eleme council chairman and Ambassador to Netherlands eulogised Governor Fubara for his transformation in all critical sectors of the State.
He said Eleme people are happy supporting the Rivers first mantra of the Governor Fubara administration, and he urged the new team to work assiduously to deliver Eleme for Sim come 2027.
Earlier, the Eleme Coordinator of the Supreme Council for Sim Worldwide, Mr Desmond Osaro said the outcome of the event has proven his people’s capacity to deliver.
Osaro said the result has indicated that Eleme Local Government Area has outnumbered other LGAs in terms of success based on the kind of leaderdhip in the area.
He said the objective of fostering strength and grooming organic support aimed at giving Governor Fubara a soft landing in his administration has been achieved.
Also, the women leader of the group, Abato Osaro said Eleme women will never stop to support the vision of Governor Fubara.
She described Governor Fubara as a silent achiever whose emergence has given hope to the masses.
The event was attended by the Eleme CTC Chairman, Prince Brain Gokpa, clergymen and the non-indigene community in the area, among others.