- Fuel Price Drop to N935/Litre Sparks Public Discontent
- NLC, CSOs Insist on Transparent Pricing Mechanism
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have expressed dissatisfaction with the recent reduction in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N935 per litre, urging the government and private refineries to make further cuts.
The Dangote Petroleum Refinery, in partnership with MRS Oil and Gas, recently announced the price adjustment, bringing relief to consumers after petrol prices previously spiked to over N1,030 per litre in Lagos and N1,060 per litre in Abuja. The new rate has been implemented across some retail outlets nationwide, but stakeholders argue it is still too high.
Labour’s Stand
NLC’s Chris Onyeka criticized the current pricing framework, saying it does not reflect domestic refining realities.
“How can we accept a price of N935 per litre when our local refineries can produce the same product more affordably? Why should Nigerians pay for foreign costs like freight, insurance, and profit margins accrued abroad when our refineries are operational?” Onyeka questioned.
He emphasized the need for transparency in determining the local cost of refining PMS. “The government must disclose the actual production cost of PMS in our refineries, like the Port Harcourt Refinery, and align prices accordingly,” he added.
Onyeka further called on the government to prioritize citizens’ welfare, saying, “Let the poor breathe. This pricing mechanism burdens ordinary Nigerians, fueling inflation and worsening economic hardship.”
CSOs Demand Accountability
Debo Adeniran, Chairman of the Centre for Accountability and Open Leadership, described the new petrol price as still unsatisfactory.
“If Dangote’s refinery can consider reducing prices to as low as N650 per litre, then the NNPC and government should do better. Other petroleum by-products generate significant revenue, so why not sell PMS at a more affordable rate?” Adeniran argued.
Similarly, Ibrahim Rafsanjani, Executive Director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, acknowledged the reduction but insisted it was insufficient. “If private companies like Dangote can make profits at reduced prices, government enterprises should do the same for the sake of Nigerians,” he said.
Mixed Reactions from Consumers
While some motorists applauded the price reduction, they expressed concerns over inconsistent pricing across retail outlets.
A driver at an NNPC station in Abuja, where petrol is sold at N965 per litre, said, “This is good news, but the queues are frustrating. Other stations are yet to implement the same price, creating unnecessary confusion.”
Major and independent marketers have cited existing stock purchased at higher prices as the reason for the delay in adjusting their pump rates.
At MRS filling stations, where the price has dropped to N935 per litre, motorists welcomed the move but reiterated the need for uniform pricing nationwide.
Call for Action
The NLC and CSOs maintain that a sustainable and transparent fuel pricing mechanism is critical to alleviating the economic burden on Nigerians. They urged the government to expedite the process of fully utilizing local refineries to ensure that PMS prices align with domestic production costs.
This call reflects the growing frustration among Nigerians grappling with rising costs of living, largely driven by high fuel prices.
