The prices of petrol have been increased, according to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which has stated that this is a punitive measure that inflicts more suffering on Nigerians. The statement was made by Debo Ologunagba, who serves as the National Publicity Secretary of PDP, and he added that they are in rejection of the increase in petrol prices to more than N1,000 per litre, but are in support of a price of N250 per litre.
In their view, the PDP explained that it is as a result of the “Insensitive and Arrogant” APC-led regime that they have increased fuel prices. The party alleged that this government cares about oil barons rather than Nigerian citizens.
According to him, “The management of this sector has always been done in secrecy and corrupt ways,” thus leading to hardship on such a magnitude that millions of Nigerians find themselves in dire straits. They cited frightening statistics, such as over 150 million Nigerians living below the poverty line; businesses closing down every single day, while a Naira trades at above N1,600 to a dollar, with an inflation rate exceeding 34% and youth unemployment rates at more than 40%.
The PDP argued that these predicaments were consequences of “ill-conceived and poorly executed” macroeconomic policies by the APC government.