Federal Government has been urged be more sensitive to the plight of Nigerians at this critical stage of the adverse effect of Covid-19 pandemic.
Leaders of a coalition of civil societies stated this in Osogbo during a protest against the increase in fuel pump price and electricity tariff announced on September 1st.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent Wasiu Ajadosu completes the story
Motorists and commercial drivers in Ibadan have frowned at the increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit, PMS, from one hundred and forty-eight naira to one hundred and sixty naira per litre.
Radio Nigeria reporter observed that almost all filling stations were selling between one hundred and fifty nine naira and one hundred and sixty naira while few major marketers were selling one hundred and forty eight naira saying they were waiting for directive from their headquarters.
Some of the residents who spoke with Radio Nigeria said the increment would affect every part of the economy.
Two commercial divers, Mr. Tunde Makinde and Mr Oyedele Salawu said the hike in petrol pump price had affected their businesses.
Also reacting, an economist, Mr Micheal Abegunde, who described the hike in petrol pump price as an unhealthy development, said it could spark inflation.
Mr Abegunde therefore urged the Federal Government to introduce measures to cushion the effects of the price hike on the masses.
Oluwakemi Akintunde
The increase in the pump price of petrol by the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency, PPPRA, has continued to elicit reactions from stakeholders in Ogun State.
Residents, who spoke with Radio Nigeria in Abeokuta, described the price increase as unfortunate especially now that many people were still battling to survive the economic hardship occasioned by the coronavirus pandemic.
A commercial motorcyclist, Mr Idowu Jonah said government should concentrate on programmes that would cushion the effect of present economic realities rather than the increasing the pump price of petrol.
Mr Jonah said the announcement of the new pump price was ill-timed and insensitive.
Also, an advocate of consumers’ rights, Mr Ola Animashaun appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that the nation’s refineries were put to use to reduce the cost for consumer.
Mr Animashaun, who expressed concern over the attitude of filling stations to the adjustment of the petrol price, encouraged the regulatory agencies to rise to the occasion of price implementation in the interest of the consumers.
Radio Nigeria correspondent, who monitored the situation in Abeokuta, observed that most filling stations had effected the new pump price of one hundred and forty three naira announced by the PPPRA.
Olusegun Folarin
