Although the rumour of another imminent petrol price hike is out there, there are no plans by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to implement such a move.
NNPC clarified this on Monday in a statement posted via its X (also known as Twitter) profile. In the post, the company encouraged consumers to visit its retail stations to get fuel at “affordable prices”, but despite this assurance, many Nigerians are in doubt based on their past experiences.
This ties in with two dramatic increases since the new government led by President Bola Tinubu came into the picture in late May. Immediately after Tinubu’s administration commenced, a litre of petrol shifted from ₦184 to ₦500. Then, from ₦500 to over ₦617 on Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
To put out all concerns from the public with regards to any planned hike in cost, the NNPC said this in a statement:
“Dear esteemed customers, we at NNPC Retail value your patronage, and we do not have the intention to increase our PMS pump prices as widely speculated. Please buy the best quality products at the most affordable prices at our NNPC Retail Stations nationwide.”
Also on Monday, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) repeated threats to embark on a strike should the rumour turn out to be true. Its president, Comrade Joe Ajaero, delivered a speech at the African Alliance of Trade Unions Executive Meeting in Abuja. According to Ajaero, no court instrument can stop the NLC from dissenting if the federal government fails to curb further painful increases.
“As we’re here now, they’re contemplating increasing the pump price of petroleum products. And the Ministry of Labour, for some time now, will only go to the Ministry of Justice to come up with a so-called injunction to hold the hands of labour not to respond.
“But let me say this, Nigerian workers will not give any notice if we have not addressed the “consequences of the last two increases and we wake up from our sleep to hear that they have tampered with it again — the prices.”
Ayodelé is a Lagos-based journalist and the Content and Editorial Coordinator at Meiza. All around the megacity, I am steering diverse lifestyle magazine audiences with ingenious hacks and insights that spur fast, informed decisions in their busy lives.
