Arewa Youths Call For Reversal Of Petrol Price
Youth groups from the North have on Monday, called for the reversal of the price of petrol as was announced by the Federal Government.
They said the major stakeholders in government who led the President Muhammadu Buhari administration to hike the price of oil, should resign voluntarily because their action had the potential of inciting Nigerians against the government.
They spoke to journalists at the Arewa House Kaduna, insisting that the hike in oil price, allegedly eroded President Muhammadu Buhari’s goodwill which he had enjoyed from the Nigerian public.
Leaders of the Arewa Youth groups were Isah Abubakar, National President, Northern Youth Council and Chairman Nigeria Citizen Action Group, Mohammed Saliu Danlamin.
Others at the Arewa House were Speaker Arewa Youth Assembly, Secretary Nigeria Citizen Action Group ,Salahudeen A Lukman, Convener, National President Intellectual Progressive Youth Network and spokesperson, Nigeria Citizen Action Group.
According to the group, “Nigerians will recall that on 11th May, 2016 Federal Government through NNPC announced the removal of fuel subsidy which necessitates hike in PMS from N97 to N145, an increase of 66.67%, a similar policy former administration of Goodluck Jonathan/PDP tried that Nigerian out rightly rejected with massive protest Nationwide.”
“Out of goodwill, unblemished trust and unprecedented love Nigerians have for President Muhammadu Buhari and his administration as man of integrity, the policy reintroduction was never questioned rather citizens endured despite its resultant effect on our day to day activities with hope for good governance in return as new government of President Buhari needs every cooperation and support of citizens to deliver as then.”
“It became a mirage, an unfortunate experience that none of citizen’s expectation came to pass instead Nigerians’ patience are being taking for foolishness as National Assembly queried Federal Government on 31st May, 2019 after a revelation that we are paying highest subsidy in the history of Nigeria under same government that hike PMS price in the name of total subsidy removal. As Nigeria spent 11trilion Naira in 6 years in subsidy.”
The group said aside from that fact that numerous revelations in the recently exposed non-remittance of tax into federation account by NNPC, while it had equally been in public domain’s violation of procurement act and scandalous contract award process by the same NNPC such as revealed by former Minister Ibe kachukwu’ leaked memo to president Buhari on 4th October, 2017.
“As at the peak of global oil price collapse at the inception of Covid-19 pandemic where crude oil price fell from $67.3 (Dec 2019) to $32.31 (March 2020) per barrel, Nigeria as major crude oil producer should not have to buy PMS more than N35 per litter but NNPC through her unintelligent, incoherent and inconsistent subsidiary called Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency PPPRA pegged pump price at N125. 50/litter on 19th March 2020, and N123. 50 on 1st April, 2020,” they said.
“It’s with total dismay Citizen received with rude shock the increase in PMS pump price again on 1st July, 2020 from N123.50 to N143.80 despite no significant price appreciation of crude oil globally from $32.31(March 2020) to $48.80 (June 2020) per barrel.”
“Instead of Nigerian citizen to experience a further drop in PMS price or maintenance of status-quo, the PPPRA, NNPC and Ministry of Petroleum decided to hike the pump price amidst this global pandemic recovery moves.”
“This we consider a deliberate attempt to erode off President Muhammadu Buhari goodwill, solidarity support, trust and love from the heart of Nigeria Citizens.”
“At a time when nations are doing more to aide her citizens out of this post-pandemic era when many have lost job, salary cut, business shut among other adverse effects, the appointees of government decide to incite citizen against their principal/government. It’s so unfortunate, highly ridiculous, callous and insensitive.”
