Activist and former Senator, Shehu Sani has lambasted the World Bank for advising the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal Government to raised taxes and withdraw subsidy on Petrol.

Sani said the World Bank is insensitive and irresponsible to have advised the Federal Government on Tax increment.

He stressed that the World Bank’s recommendations is aimed at imposing more hardship on Nigerians who are already suffering from poverty and insecurity.

In a Statement issued by the former Kaduna State Senator on Friday added that the World Bank had alerted about poverty levels rising to 104 million out of a population of 223 million, as a result of the rise in the cost of living brought about by the economic reforms.

He said that the World Bank kingpins comfortably sit in their office and think of the economy as a game of chess and not about people, their families and their lives.

He added that at present, the government is managing a grenade with care and now telling it to remove the pin. He wondered where would the World Bank be if the country is plunged into further chaos in a nation currently battling with security challenges.

Sani also criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for removing fuel subsidy and unifying exchange rate, saying that these measures were not enough to address the root causes of inflation and economic instability.

He urged President Tinubu to adopt more inclusive and sustainable policies that would create jobs, reduce poverty, improve infrastructure, enhance social protection and promote regional integration.

He also called on Nigerians to resist any attempt by any external or internal actor to undermine their sovereignty and dignity.

He said, “The World Bank is insouciantly telling Our Nigerian Government to raise taxes, withdraw subsidies on everything and just increase the price of PMS known as petrol.

“It’s the same World Bank that alerted about poverty levels rising to 104 million out of a population of 223 million, as a result of the rise in the cost of living brought about by the economic reforms.

“The World Bank kingpins comfortably sit in their office and think of the economy as game of Chess and not about people, their families and their lives.

“At present, the Government is managing a Grenade with care and now telling it to remove the pin. Where would the World Bank be if the country is plunged into further chaos in a nation currently battling with security challenges?”

Sani’s statement comes amid growing public discontent over rising prices of food items, electricity, transport fares and other commodities.

The National Bureau of Statistics reported that inflation rose to 25.8% in August 2023 from 23.2% in July. The Central Bank of Nigeria also increased its policy rate by 200 basis points from 12% to 22% in September to curb inflationary pressures.