Everyday, the struggle for Nigerians keeps increasing, and the worsening economic condition threatens the lifeline of the country. Government policies have placed a choke-hold on the people and just as Nigerians attempt to catch their breath under the weight of government policies, the pressure only tightens. The message from the government seems clear: “You cannot breathe. We will not allow you to take a breath.” At this point, someone needs to remind Mr. President that Nigerians need room to breathe—we need to breathe. With the suffocating economic situation, Nigerians are pleading: Let us breathe!
Endurance in the Face of Hardship
Since the current administration took office, Nigerians have been told to endure, with repeated promises of hope that never seems to materialize. Despite enduring over a year of severe economic hardship, a new crisis looms as the government turns a blind eye to the actions of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). Recently, the NNPCL increased the pump price of petrol, a critical fuel for transportation and economic activities. The price soared to ₦998 in Lagos and ₦1,030 in Abuja—a development that spells nothing but doom for Nigerians struggling to survive.
Government’s Silence on the NNPCL Price Hike
As the situation worsens, the federal government appears indifferent to the NNPCL’s actions. In a previous speech, the president referred to the fuel price hike as a “hard decision, but necessary for development.” Similarly, the minister of petroleum resources stated that he has no control over the price of fuel, claiming that the NNPCL, now a corporate entity, operates under market forces.
But can the government truly claim to be uninvolved in the actions of the NNPCL?
The Role of the Government and the NNPCL
Under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), the NNPCL was restructured as a limited liability company, operating as a commercial agent of the Nigerian government in the oil and gas sector. The regulatory roles previously held by the NNPCL were reassigned to two separate agencies: the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The NMDPRA is tasked with regulating the midstream and downstream sectors of the industry, including setting favorable tariff prices, ensuring market competition, and controlling pump prices. However, since the NNPCL began operating under its new corporate structure, the government—through the NMDPRA—has failed to act, despite growing public outcry.
A Government That Has Failed to Act
With the current state of affairs, one has to question whether the government truly cares about the well-being of its citizens. While the presidency champions reforms and promises change, the reality is that its policies have created overwhelming hardship, undermining any genuine efforts toward progress.
Under such conditions, we plead with the Nigerian government to listen to the cries of its people. Nigerians are suffocating under the weight of these economic policies, and we ask: Let Nigerians breathe.
