The government should know that things are already very tough. The prices of essential commodities have increased. For instance, a plastic of garri, which used to be N300, is now N800. While the masses expect the government to cushion the effects of rising cost of living, what one hears from our leaders daily is disheartening. This same year, electricity tariffs were increased even though supply has worsened.
A few months ago, the government increased the pump price of fuel. Why are oil marketers clamouring for oil price increase again? Why hasn’t the government rejected this clamour?
Has the government considered the impact that such a decision would have on the masses? Some people eat once a day; that is how bad the situation is. The government should know that the masses are suffering.
Things will be very difficult if the Federal Government increases the pump price of fuel. The cost of transportation, which many people consider as very high already, would shoot through the rooftop. I would plead with the Federal Government to do everything it could to ensure that the price remains at N145 per litre. The generality of Nigerians even expect the government to reduce the price.
With the current economic condition, the plan to increase fuel price should be suspended. The government should focus on reviving the economy. Fuel price hike at this critical time would further impoverish Nigerians.
I would be surprised if the Federal Government falls for the blackmail of the marketers again. The government must shun the temptation to increase the price because it would worsen the financial condition of Nigerians. People are suffering; many states have stopped paying salaries. These challenges should bother the government. I don’t think the government should consider imposing another form of indirect tax in the name of fuel price increase.
Well, I hope there would not be another #OccupyNigeria. The best way to ease the pains of Nigerians now is to reduce the current pump price. Nigerians would fight back if the government and the so-called marketers go ahead with their plan.
Why should oil marketers contemplate another fuel increase at this challenging time? Don’t they understand the pains Nigerians are going through? By the way, why should the government, in the face of the multiple problems that Nigerians are bearing, consider subsidising foreign exchange for hajj pilgrims? I just pray that God should show me a path that would lead me out of this country.
It is unfortunate that the country depends solely on oil. What magic would the government perform? I think we sincerely need to go back to agriculture and mining. And even if we do, it would take time before those sectors begin to yield reasonable results. We need to diversify the economy. But Nigerians would need to be patient with the government because diversification is not a short-term agenda.
The planned increase would not be in the interest of Nigerians because it would worsen the inflationary pressure. Apart from that, Nigerians have suffered enough owing to the challenges facing the economy. The major explanation for the subsidy removal was that it would encourage local refining. Nigerians deserve to know the success the government has recorded so far in that area. What is the production capacity of the existing refineries? How many new ones are being constructed?
Honestly, I don’t know the explanation the government would give this time. How long are we going to continue to hear the usual excuses?
Let me warn the Federal Government about this – no matter what happens, it should not increase the pump price. Fuel subsidy has been removed. What is the noise about possible increase? If the government attempts to increase the price again, it would show that it does not care about the masses. The fuel marketers should know that the current administration is different from the previous ones, which they could easily manipulate and influence. Those who cannot sell at the current price should close their filling stations because Nigerians would not pay anything above N145 per liter.
The marketers should not even contemplate another fuel hike because the masses would resist any attempt to do that. What exactly do they want? Do they want to frustrate the efforts of this administration? Nigerians are still grappling with the consequences of the recent hike and they are talking about another one. Do they have human feelings at all? If it is a joke, they should better stop it because it is an expensive one. Why are they so greedy?
But I think the government is to blame for the arrogant manner the marketers relate with the other members of the society. Were their licences not issued by the government? Why is it so difficult to check their excesses?
If the marketers like, they should buy a dollar for N1,000. Nobody cares anymore. We are used to their endless blackmail and self-seeking agenda. Must it be about making profit all the time? How do they feel seeing less-privileged Nigerians sinking deeper into misery? The cartel in the downstream oil and gas sector of Nigeria is terrible. It should be clear to them that Nigerians would not continue to tolerate their selfishness. Isn’t N145 per liter too expensive already?
Another hike in petrol pump price in the face of rising inflation rate? Nigeria seems to have come to an end as a nation. We can only pray to God to save this country from total collapse.
Ideally, public policies should be aimed at making life better for the majority of the people, but the decisions of the Nigerian government are aimed at satisfying the greed of a few people.
Nigerian public officials should know that Nigerians are not fools. They may be patient but they are certainly not fools.
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