Nigeria Journalists Call For Reversal of ‘Sudden Fuel Price Hike’ Immediately

The Nigerian Union of Journalists has condemned the increase of fuel pump price per litre in Abuja in Lagos to N617 and N568 per litre respectively and demanded an immediate reversal of the fuel prices to their former post-subsidy removal rates.

In a statement titled “Stop The Ugly Drift”, written by Shuaibu Usman Leman, the National Secretary of the NUJ, and published on Tuesday night, the NUJ spoke against the sudden hike on fuel price, saying that the decision has become overkill as it is negatively affecting Nigerians who depend on petrol for their daily needs.

The statement read, “Nigeria Union of Journalists is alarmed at the just announced increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N617 per litre in Abuja and N568 in Lagos respectively.

This development has already triggered astronomical increases in transportation costs, with prices of food items soaring almost beyond the reach of many citizens, even as users of generators to power their homes are already groaning uncontrollably under the present situation.

While we applaud the decision to remove the costly subsidies on fuel, however we had cautioned against a hasty implementation of the policy without putting mitigating measures in place to cushion the excruciating effects.

We are saddened by the fact that today most people can hardly commute to work or other places of business without too much stress because the embarrassing sudden surge in petrol prices has made it so.

We believe that this sudden decision is an over kill and urge that the situation should be reversed immediately while adequate measures are considered and put in place to lessen the effects on ordinary Nigerians.”

It was reported earlier on Tuesday that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had increased the fuel pump price in their Abuja outlets from N539 per litre to N617 per litre. Following this increase, it was reported that NNPCL outlets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State and Akute, Ogun State, had also increased their fuel price to N600 and N568 per litre respectively.

While the pump price in the Lagos NNPCL outlets remain unchanged, TotalEnergies filling station in Alakija, sold petrol for N565 per litre, a N65 increase from its former price of N500 per litre, with Peridot filling station, along Festac link road, increased their fuel pump price to N565 per litre as well.

Ozioma Samuel-Ugwuezi

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