Politics

How Ohanaeze Youth Wing Blames Years of Mismanagement for Fuel Price Surge, Not Current Minister

Published by Tope Fakinlede on September 7th, 2024.

How Ohanaeze Youth Wing Blames Years of Mismanagement for Fuel Price Surge, Not Current Minister

The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing has attributed the recent increase in fuel prices to decades of poor governance rather than placing the blame on Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.

According to the group, the longstanding mismanagement of Nigeria’s oil sector, including the neglect of refineries for 28 years, has led to the current crisis. They argue that this issue is deeply rooted and cannot be resolved quickly.

In a statement, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, the National Youth Leader of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, emphasized that the current problems with fuel pricing and availability stem from decades of inadequate infrastructure and failed maintenance of pipelines and storage facilities. He clarified that while improvements could be made, the minister should not be held solely responsible for the current difficulties.

Okpalaezeukwu urged the government to focus on overhauling the oil sector and investigating military oversight issues before attributing fault to the petroleum minister. He also called for urgent attention to the economic hardships caused by the recent fuel price hike.

To address these issues, the group recommends reversing the recent price increases and initiating reforms to boost domestic refining capacity. They also highlighted the importance of completing the rehabilitation of the Port Harcourt refinery to enhance product availability and stabilize prices. Additionally, they called for effective oversight of the Warri and Kaduna refineries and suggested increased collaboration with international and local stakeholders to tackle industry disputes and reduce oil theft.