The recent increase in fuel prices in Nigeria is coming at a time when citizens are faced with harsh economic realities and this is unfortunate.
Development Diaries reports that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited has increased its pump price of fuel from N615 per litre to N897 per litre.
This caused some residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to embark on protests demanding immediate resolution to the current fuel crisis in the country.
The protesters’ demands for a reduction in pump prices show how the cost of living has become increasingly unbearable, particularly for the most vulnerable segments of the population.
Why do overburdened citizens have to bear this burden? Many Nigerians are clearly frustrated.
Some Nigerians who spoke to our reporter have expressed their frustrations, with many losing hope in the government.
Paul Ojiefo stated, ‘It’s only in Nigeria we struggle to feed and also struggle to get fuel on a daily basis. Despite the prices increasing steadily, we still have to join long queues in fuel stations just to get fuel.
‘This fuel issue is causing lots of food shortage and food insecurity in the country, prices are inflated daily and nothing is being done about it. My salary now goes for just fuel and food for my family. I can’t even save out of the salary I receive. The government must take action immediately and put the common man in mind’.
The situation is not different for Salami Adenike.
‘The hike in price would only bring more hardship to the people as the cost of transportation and food will increase the more. This is a calculated attempt to reduce the purchasing powers of Nigerians and increase hunger in our land.
‘Our well-being and standard of living are being threatened, not a single palliative for the Nigerians before the fuel subsidy was removed.
‘I’m appealing to President Bola Tinubu to provide meaningful palliatives and fast track them to cushion the hardship we Nigerians face at the moment’.
Another citizen, Monye Uzo, stated, ‘Naira to dollar is high, naira to pounds is high, fuel price is now overrated, groceries and foodstuff are high because of this, minimum wage and salaries low, politicians salaries very high.
‘We know where the problem is coming from’.
For Yusuf Mujabi, he lamented the amount of money needed to fill up his fuel tank. He said, ‘The price change is frustrating. We have not even found a balance after the last increment when subsidy was removed. Right now, you need almost N80,000 to fill up your car fuel tank’.
The question on the lips of many remains: ‘When will citizens breathe?’
This situation underscores the urgency for the Tinubu-led government to address the issue head-on, as the lack of appropriate action is concerning.
Beyond short-term relief, the Tinubu administration must prioritise a comprehensive energy policy that addresses the root causes of the fuel crisis.
It is expected that promises of working refineries should be fulfilled, to reduce dependency on imported fuel.
Nigerians are tired of empty hopes and promises. The time to act is now. Instead of looking to arrest and arraign protesters for protesting against hunger and hardship, as is the norm, President Tinubu should take action.
Development Diaries calls on the president and his team to engage in a transparent dialogue with key stakeholders, including fuel marketers and labour unions, to explore viable options for stabilising fuel prices without disproportionately burdening the citizens.
Photo source: Tribune
