Nigerians from different works of life have expressed fear that further rise in the cost of the commodity due to fuel price hike will increase the hardship already faced by many citizens.
Speaking with the media on Saturday, a security expert, Iyke Odife cautioned that if nothing is done to address this challenge, insecurity will soon take over the country as people may resort to self help in order to survive
While reacting to the increment of fuel by the National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), to N1,030 from its initial price of N895, Programs, research and public relations officer of Transparency Accountability for Development Initiatives (TADI), Adeniran Taiwo said the sufferings Nigerians are currently going through will need presidential intervention and sacking of some public office holders inorder to surmount.
He said systemic corruption have left Nigeria reeling from an enduring fuel crisis and a crushing debt burden and the time for deception is over as Nigerians need to demand accountable and real leadership now.
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“This is the clarion call of all Nigerians struggling every day, who are enduring unbearable levels of hardship.
“From the skyrocketing cost of fuel to the unrelenting inflation that has made even the basics of life unaffordable – citizens are suffering! Households and businesses alike are stretched to their limits, and the most vulnerable are bearing the brunt of this mismanagement in NNPCL.
“The fuel crisis has drained the nation’s resources and eroded public confidence in the ability of the government to alleviate the hardship.
“How can citizens hold firmly to the hopes anchored in President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda?”
“The situation is even more outrageous when considering the billions lost to a leadership incapable of delivering on the most basic expectations. Nigerians continue to suffer from outrageous fuel prices and worsening inflation.
“The government has failed in his responsibility to provide transparent and effective leadership, and the consequences of his incompetence are being felt by every Nigerian struggling to cope with rising living costs and fuel shortages.
“As the public’s hopes were pinned on the Dangote Refinery to ease the fuel supply crisis, even this venture has failed.
“Instead of relief, Nigerians continue to see rising costs and little progress toward resolving the structural issues plaguing our energy sector.
“Despite billions of dollars allocated to the rehabilitation of Nigeria’s refineries, there are zero operational refineries today. The economic repercussions of this mismanagement are devastating.
“As of September 2024, Nigeria’s inflation rate has surged to 24.5 per cent an overwhelming strain on the daily lives of Nigerians.
“In the same period, fuel prices have increased by over 150 per cent, placing an even heavier burden on citizens who are already struggling with high costs of living”, he stated.
Many stakeholders have blamed the rising inflation in the country on the rising hike in fuel, identifying high cost of transportation as a major contributing factor to commodities price surge.
