Fuel price increase: Peter Obi urges President Tinubu to help struggling Nigerians
On Saturday, October 12, Peter Obi, the Presidential candidate of the Labour Party and former governor of Anambra State, spoke out about the recent rise in fuel prices.
He asked President Bola Tinubu to reverse this sudden increase, which he believes has made life even tougher for many Nigerians.
Obi called the price hike by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) “insensitive” and expressed concern about the confusion surrounding how fuel prices are set in Nigeria.
According to reports, the NNPCL announced the increase just days after allowing oil marketers to take fuel from Dangote Refinery, meaning it would no longer be the only source for petrol.
Feeling upset about the situation, Peter Obi shared his thoughts on his verified account on X, saying that many Nigerians are struggling because of the government’s poor choices. He wrote: “As Nigerians continue to groan under extremely difficult economic conditions, largely caused by the Federal Government’s wrong policy choices, the NNPCL has once again raised the price of fuel (PMS) without providing any explanation.”
He added, “This is both unfortunate and insensitive, considering the wide-ranging negative consequences for our economic survival and well-being.”
Obi pointed out that there should be better management of the country’s resources. He questioned the roles of the NNPCL and the agencies that regulate fuel prices, asking, “Who, in this arrangement, is regulating who?”
He reminded everyone that both the NNPCL and the regulatory agencies should be supervised by the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, with the President serving as the Minister. He emphasized that the responsibility to explain the price hike and find solutions lies with the Minister of Petroleum Resources.
Obi expressed hope that the President would act in the best interest of Nigerians who are facing tough times. He said, “To casually inflict such a draconian measure on the populace from the comfort of an annual vacation amounts to taking the people’s welfare lightly and for granted. A New and more compassionate Nigeria is indeed possible!”
