By VICTOR AHIUMA-YOUNG

LAGOS – Nigeria Automobile Technicians, an umbrella body of automobile technicians in the country, have faulted reasons adduced by Federal Government for its planned removal of subsidy on fuel, saying the “reasons are outdated deceits, which are not different from the past excuses of previous governments.”

Leaders of the group in a statement in Lagos, argued that removal of petroleum subsidy was a Pandora box, which would ignite serious political, economic, social and security crises that could abort the Nigerian project. It advised government to halt its move to remove the petroleum subsidy.

According the statement, “the attendant hardships of the removal of fuel subsidy, would make most Nigerians lose faith in the Nigeria project. It is also a known fact that the Federal Government is losing the battle against some emerging organised violence in the country and any additional violence or crisis may end up in a serious national crisis.

“It must be noted that most of the current organised violence in the country today, such as Niger Delta resource control struggle, the Boko haram, Plateau religious and ethnic violence, kidnappings among others, are just the symptoms of a failed Nigeria, as the government is yet to put this violence under control.

“The removal of oil subsidy will be the last straw that will break the camel’s back. Poverty generated violence is very difficult to conquer and a very potent force of destabilisation. We reject all reasons behind the removal.”