Many Nigerians have expressed concerns and outrage about the sudden hike in the price of petrol to a very much absurd ₦855 per liter at Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) filling stations.
Following the price hike, the commodity’s scarcity has resurfaced across the country, leaving the major populace struggling to cope with the rising cost of living and extreme hardship.
As disturbing as this is, honest citizens can easily recall their reality about 9 years ago, when the ruling party criticized and bemoaned the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan for setting petrol prices at ₦87 per liter. Also, citizens can recall that back in 2015, the ruling party scuttled for power on some grounds including their claim that the price of petrol should not exceed ₦70 per liter.
The ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC) had continuously supported that petroleum, which was obviously at the nations beck and call should not be difficult to purchase or even access.
However, this is 2024 and the common commodity remains at arm’s-length to the Nigerian citizenry.
Concerned voices have consistently complained and expressed dissatisfaction on the way the current system handles the oil sector.
In a now trending captured photo on social media, the APC in 2015 was quoted saying; “Now that the oil price has crash to about 44 dollars per barrel, landing cost without subsidy is about 65 Naira per litre. The same goes for diesel which should not sell for more than 90 Naira per litre.”
Nigerians have been subjected to buying fuel today at an outrageous ₦855 to ₦1000.
To many citizens, this is a Nightmare.