Increased Fuel Pump Price: Nigerians Groan In Pains, Says Ikimi

By Oguns Sammy
Following the recent hike in pump prices of fuel in the country by the federal government, more reactions have continued to trail this development.

The Executive Director of Centre for the Venerable and Underprivileged (CENTREP), Barr Oghenejabor Ikimi (Esq.) spoke to our correspondent in Warri.

He said the recent hike in price of fuel from N148 to N161 by the federal government has added to the sufferings of Nigerians.

Ikimi said the economy is already biting hard on Nigerians as the prices of food stuffs have skyrocketed due to the Covid-19 pandemic which ravaged the world, which of course, Nigeria forms a part, adding that instead of the federal government to consider the plight of Nigerians in this direction by reducing it, it added to the suffering of Nigerians by hiking the prices of the petrol.

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According to him, apart from the cost of food stuffs which have gone beyond the reach of the common man, fares have gone high as many Nigerians are hungry.

Many people can hardly transport from one place to another for business purposes or any other due to high fares (transport money).

He said, already, many commuters are finding it difficult to pay for exorbitant fares which were occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and now added to it is the hike in prices of the fuel.

Continujng, he said the federal government is insensitive to the plight of Nigerians otherwise why should it increase fuel price at this critical time of the country when Nigerians are still finding it difficult to cope with existing challenge.

Barr. lkimi said even the Ministry of Finance has even confirmed that the economy is already bastardised, adding that, that alone should be enough signal that there was no need for the increase of petroleum products.

He said with the federal government subsidy of the products, things have been moving, stresing that but with this recent increase, many Nigerians would starve the more.

The legal luminary therefore appealed to the federal government under the leadership of Presidemt Mahammadu Buhari to revert to the old price if really it has the interest of Nigerians at heart.

He said: “lf President Muhammadu Buhari has the interest of Nigerians at heart, he should revert to the old pump price of #110.00 per litre of the products.

It would be recalled that the federal government under President Mohammadu Buhari announced the hike in price of fuel last week, an action which was widely condemned by many Nigrians.