With fuel subsidy removal, trust in God but tie your camel

<h2>As I moved around Abuja this week, I thought about an ancient account that I once read of a religious teacher and his encounter with a Bedouin man — a nomadic Arab tribesman from the harsh lands of the Arabian Peninsula.</h2>, <p>Moving forward, any government policy shift must be accompanied by a well-vetted rollout plan.</p>, <span>Since the removal of fuel subsidy, countless Nigerians have found themselves stranded, barely surviving, and pushed to their limits (image used for illustration) SBM Intelligence</span>, <p>At this fateful meeting, it is said that the religious teacher noticed the Bedouin man’s unattended camel and asked about its lack of tethering. The Bedouin, a man of strong faith, responded that he trusted in Almighty Allah to keep his camel restrained. The wise teacher is said to have then imparted a lesson that we should all heed today, "Trust in God, but tie your camel."</p>, <p>With fuel prices now at ₦‎617 per litre, as we collectively reflect on the recent subsidy removal and its profound impact on millions of Nigerians, it becomes clear that this lesson holds significance for our nation's government.</p>, <p>Certainly, for years, we have all agreed that we can no longer sustain a fuel subsidy regime that enriched a select few while harming the masses. Yes, during the 2023 general elections, the three major political parties supported the subsidy's removal — and the previous administration even took steps to discontinue it in the budget.</p>, <p>Yet, this doesn't mean that the circumstances surrounding the removal of the subsidy should have been left to chance. This is because since the announcement was made on May 29, countless Nigerians have found themselves stranded, barely surviving, and pushed to their limits.</p>, <p>This drastic policy shift can be likened to Elon Musk's sudden backward attempt to rebrand Twitter to 'X’ — starting from the logo. It illustrates that it is not only the decision itself that matters but also the process of its implementation.</p>, <p>Moving forward,