Fuel Price Hike Not Good for Nigerians – ex NOA. DG calls for A Rethink

By David Odama

Former Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Dr. Mike Omeri has advised the APC led government not to further impoverish Nigerians, saying that increasing pump price of PMS will not only aggravate the hardship of Nigerians but bring anarchy, and is not good for the moment.

Dr. Omeri’s reaction followed the decision by the NNPCL in a statement to increase the pump price recently insisting that it was a frontal act of violence on the citizens who are still finding it difficult to adjust to the first increase of May last year.

The recent pump price was increased to between N855 and N918 per litre on Tuesday, with the prices varying across the location, at NNPC stations across the country.

According to Dr Omeri who described the current increase as being indifferent and unresponsive to the plight of ordinary citizens who deserved nothing but a conducive condition of living appealed to president Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his good offices in a move towards making Nigerians a United and indivisible nation and supporters of his policies by listening to them especiallyat this time.

The former DG, in his statement, rejected the increase, which has now pushed the pump price of fuel to over N1,000 per litre with attendant increases in the cost of everything, in a country that produces oil. “It appears arbitrary and is distorting the mindset of Nigerians who are facing the grim reality of cost increases in everything, including the wellbeing of Nigerians.

He equally enjoined the federal government to rescind the decision on the recent increases in the pump price of petrol in the face of the hardship inflicted on Nigerians by the APC government

“The thoughtless increase in fuel price especially at this time most citizens were finding it extremely difficult to feed, pay medical bills, facing insecurity, kidnapping and other crimes Is a huge anti people policies Nigerians cannot bear” Dr Omeri stated.

“I think what the APC government should do for the country how is to tackle the worsening security situation, effect of the hardship occasioned by the fuel subsidy removal, economic stagnation which they currently face under the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led APC administration”.

“The secretive and corrupt administration of the petroleum sector and persistent increase in fuel price under the Tinubu government without due regard to the existence and wellbeing of the citizens is not only pushing Nigerians to extreme and daring the peace and security of the nation.”

It is disheartening because “the APC administration has consistently display anti-people, unconcerned and deaf to the agonies of millions of Nigerians who can no longer afford their daily meals, medications and basic support for families due to the high cost of living occasioned by the insensitive and reckless policies of the the present government.

“Nigerians are groaning and lamenting, with many condemning the government as insensitive due to the latest hike in petrol prices. many Nigerians particularly lament that their hardships have been compounded, as transportation fares and the cost of goods have already risen due to the petrol price increase.