Obi Urges Tinubu to Reverse Fuel Price Increase from Vacation
Peter Obi, the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has criticized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the recent fuel price hike while he is away on vacation.
While in London, Tinubu’s government allowed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to increase fuel prices significantly: from N897 to N1,030 per litre in Abuja; N855 to N998 in Lagos; and varying amounts across other regions, reaching as high as N1,075 in the South-South.
This price surge has sparked outrage among Nigerians, many of whom are calling on Tinubu to intervene and reverse the increase. However, Information Minister Mohammed Idris stated that the NNPCL is solely responsible for the change.
In a series of tweets on Saturday, Obi expressed his concerns about the economic hardships facing Nigerians, attributing them to poor decisions made by the Federal Government. He lamented, “The NNPCL has raised fuel prices again without any explanation, which is both unfortunate and insensitive given the severe impact on our economy and people’s lives. This is not how to manage a nation’s resources or govern effectively.”
Obi pointed out the confusion regarding the roles of the NNPCL and the regulatory bodies like NUPRC and NMDPRA, noting that both should fall under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources, which Tinubu oversees as Minister. He questioned who is truly responsible for oversight in this scenario.
He continued, “With the immense and avoidable suffering that Nigerians are facing, the duty to explain this increase, offer alternatives, and, most crucially, reverse the price hike lies with the Minister of Petroleum Resources and the President.”
Obi urged Tinubu to prioritize the welfare of the majority of Nigerians, especially as they endure these challenging conditions, and to take action before returning from his vacation. He remarked that imposing such a “draconian measure” while on holiday shows a disregard for the well-being of the populace.
His comments follow similar criticism from former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, who referred to Tinubu as “T-Pain” due to the fuel price increase.
