The People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the recent increase in fuel price to over N1,000 per litre, describing it as a “brutal assault” on Nigerians.
Also, the leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on the same day, Wednesday, decried the recent increase in the pump price of fuel by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), stating that it further imposed an unbearable burden on the already overstretched finances of ordinary Nigerians and has aggravated the economic challenges faced by millions across the country.
NBA President, Mazi Afam Osigwe (SAN), expressed the association’s profound concern and strong condemnation of the action in a statement posted on his X handle, noting that the price of fuel had risen sharply from N617 to about N900.
PDP on Wednesday accused the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government of being “anti-people” and “unconcerned” about the suffering of millions of Nigerians.
In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP lamented that the persistent increase in fuel price without regard for the people’s wellbeing is akin to “pushing Nigerians to the wall.”
The party noted that over 150 million Nigerians have sunk below the poverty line, businesses are collapsing daily, and the Naira is exchanging for over N1,600 to a Dollar, with high inflation and unemployment rates.
The party said, “There is practically no hope in sight under the current APC government policies as major multi-national companies continue to exit our country in droves in the face of ill-conceived and ill-implemented macro-economic policies.
“The admission by the APC-led Federal Government that it has handed the fate of Nigerians to oil racketeers in the name of free market economy further validates the position of the PDP that the Tinubu-led administration has abdicated the primary purpose of government; which is to provide for the welfare and security of the citizens.
“President Tinubu is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and cannot exonerate his government and officials from the secretive and fraudulent management of the petroleum sector which is fast pushing our nation’s economy to the precipice.
“APC has now become an enabler of a cabal of corrupt APC rent-seekers who apparently derive pleasure in inflicting pains on Nigerians while hugely benefiting from the proceeds of incessant increase in fuel price to satisfy and fund their luxury appetite and consumption.
“With the hopeless state of affairs of our nation today, our Party wonders what President Tinubu, during his numerous trips abroad, says to his foreign counterparts in nations where leaders prioritize the welfare of their people!
“With a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage and national refining capacity, petrol should not sell more than N250 per litre in Nigeria.
“The PDP calls on President Tinubu to save the country from further socio-economic dislocation by immediately reversing the latest provocative increase in fuel price and revisit all life-discounting and suffocating policies of the APC government.”
According to him, “This significant and abrupt hike has imposed an unbearable burden on the already overstretched finances of ordinary Nigerians, further aggravating the economic challenges faced by millions across the country.”
He stated that the cascading effects of such a steep increase in fuel prices on the cost of living, transportation, and essential goods and services are deeply troubling. He added that many Nigerians are already grappling with inflation, unemployment, and other forms of hardship, and this additional financial strain is simply unsustainable.
“If allowed to persist, this price hike will only deepen the poverty and hardship experienced by the citizens. While the NBA acknowledges the necessity of economic reforms and recognizes the government’s responsibility to make difficult decisions, these decisions must be made with the utmost consideration for their impact on the welfare of the citizens. The NBA views this sudden price hike as not only harsh but also unjustified at this time.
“In light of this, the Nigerian Bar Association calls on the Federal Government to immediately halt the implementation of this policy and engage in meaningful dialogue with all relevant stakeholders, including civil society organizations, labor unions, and economic experts, to explore more sustainable and less punitive alternatives.
“We urge the government to prioritize the welfare of its citizens, particularly the most vulnerable, and to pursue policies that alleviate rather than exacerbate the hardships faced by the Nigerian people.”
“The NBA remains steadfast in its commitment to upholding the rule of law and will continue to advocate for the rights and well-being of all Nigerians. We stand ready to engage constructively with the government to find a more equitable solution that ensures economic stability while safeguarding the interests of all Nigerians.”
