Public Outrage Grows as Petrol Prices Skyrocket in Nigeria
Anger and frustration swept through Nigerians as the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol) reached alarming levels, with prices soaring to N568 per litre in Lagos and N617 per litre in Abuja and other northern states.
The latest surge in fuel prices elicited widespread despair among motorists and commuters across the country, from Lagos, Ogun, and Edo in the South West and South-South regions to Niger, Borno, and Zamfara in the north.
NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, attributed the increase to market forces, while the Borno State chapter of IPMAN expressed concern over the lack of government support to mitigate the impact of subsidy removal on the people’s living standards.
NECA emphasized the need for local refining as a long-term solution, urging the government to assess the national refineries and establish privatization plans. In contrast, the NLC criticized the price hike, arguing that it would further exacerbate the financial hardship faced by the Nigerian populace.
As petrol stations adjusted their prices, students, commuters, and tricycle taxi drivers in Lagos voiced their grievances, highlighting the subsequent spike in transportation fares and the challenges faced by drivers due to the fuel price hike.
In Ondo State, long queues reappeared at petrol stations, prompting commuters to resort to trekking, and motorists expressed dismay at the government’s inability to alleviate their hardships.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) CEO, Mele Kyari, attributed the price increase to market forces and assured Nigerians of stable supply, emphasizing that the market would regulate itself.
The IPMAN chairman in Borno State, Alhaji Mohammed Kuluwu, expressed concern over the timing and impact of the price hike, criticizing the lack of palliatives and the devaluation of the naira, which has put pressure on fuel importers.
NECA called for a focus on local refining to address the increasing costs of imported refined petroleum products, urging the government to review the national refineries’ status and consider privatization.
The NLC strongly rejected the new pump price, considering it provocative and detrimental to Nigerians already facing economic hardships. They called for a return to the previous price and emphasized the need for dialogue to resolve the issues surrounding the fuel price hike.
Overall, the surge in petrol prices in Nigeria has sparked widespread outrage and concerns about the impact on the general population, prompting calls for government intervention and long-term solutions to alleviate the burden on the people.
