Nigeria, May 9 -- In a country where fuel is the lifeblood of daily life and the engine oil of the economy, floating the idea of a hasty ban on fuel importation is not just a misstep-it's a ticking time bomb. The Federal Government's new 'Nigeria First Policy', while noble in intent, risks turning patriotism into punishment if poorly implemented. Let's not dress a half-baked idea in national colours and call it a revolution.

The calls for caution from petroleum marketers under IPMAN and PETROAN should not fall on deaf ears. To attempt banning fuel importation at a time when our refining capacity is still wobbling is to put the cart before the horse. It's like asking a man with a leaking roof to dance in the rain. Yes, the Dangote Refiner...