The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the recent increase in the petrol price by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to N1,030 per litre.
The price hike, reported on Wednesday, October 9, has sparked widespread concerns over its impact on the cost of living. The NBA, therefore, urged the Federal Government to prioritise the well-being of Nigerians.
In a statement issued on Friday, October 11, the NBA president, Mazi Afam Osigwe, a senior advocate, criticised the government’s decision to increase fuel prices from N900 per litre to N1,030, without adequate measures to cushion the effects on the public.
The association noted that this sharp rise would only deepen the economic hardships faced by Nigerians, especially those struggling to make ends meet.
The NBA expressed frustration over the lack of transparency in the government’s decision-making, highlighting that such policies had been implemented without meaningful consultation with stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector.
On Wednesday, The ICIR reported that some NNPCL outlets raised the price of petrol to N998 in Lagos State and N1,003 in Abuja, which could be higher in Sokoto and Borno states.
Until now, the NNPCL had sold the product for N855 in Lagos. The new development resulted from the anticipated total deregulation of the sector, which removed the NNPCL as the middleman and permitted independent marketers to purchase the product directly from the Dangote Refinery.
Reports indicate that fuel stations owned by independent marketers have also adjusted their prices beyond N1,000.
The state-owned oil company had, on September 4, hiked the pump price, which resulted in an adjustment by oil marketers to above N1,000, which made transportation costs jump by over 50 per cent or more.
However, reacting to this development, the NBA president described the government’s disregard for the suffering of Nigerians as “troubling,” and called for immediate steps to reverse the increase.
“On November 4, 2023, the NBA issued a statement strongly opposing the fuel price hike from N617 to N900 per litre. At that time, we highlighted the severe financial strain this imposed on the average Nigerian household, and the latest increase only compounds these difficulties.
“Such drastic adjustments to fuel prices, with no adequate mitigating measures or economic relief, signal a disturbing trend of disregard for the welfare of the Nigerian populace. The much-needed tax breaks and social assistance programmes are yet to be implemented. People are groaning and life has become more difficult.
“The Nigerian Bar Association is particularly concerned that such decisions continue to be made without transparent consultation or dialogue with relevant stakeholders, including civil society and the private sector. The government’s seeming disregard for the suffering of the people is troubling. Nigerians deserve better— they deserve a government that prioritises their well-being and takes into account the real-world implications of its policies on the populace,” the statement read.
While urging the government to take steps to mitigate the impact of the fuel price, the NBA recommended that the government invest in local refining capacity, improve public transportation and reduce taxation on low-income earners.
The group also called on the government to repair public roads and enhance security to support farmers in transporting their produce.
He called for a transparent fuel pricing mechanism and broader economic policies aimed at reducing poverty and providing sustainable solutions to Nigeria’s energy challenges.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M