The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has said that the rising cost of petrol is imposing severe hardship on Nigerians.
Reacting on Tuesday through its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, the party said that with petrol now selling for as much as N1,470 per litre, transportation, food and other basic needs have become more expensive.
“Food, transportation, electricity, education, and everything Nigerians need to survive respond directly to the price of fuel and combine to make life difficult for the majority of Nigerians,” the party said.
The ADC cited reports of private schools increasing fees by between 30 and 40 per cent, while noting that incomes have not increased at a similar rate.
“Parents are not earning 40 per cent more. Their salaries have not risen with the prices of fuel, food, rent, transportation, and school fees. Yet, at every turn, families are being asked to pay more,” the party said.
The ADC said it does not blame school proprietors who, it said, are also contending with rising taxes, electricity bills, fuel costs, rent and salaries.
“Parents, workers, and businesses are all feeling the impact of the current economic situation,” the party said.
The party said that at N1,470 per litre, petrol costs are affecting household budgets significantly, with families making difficult adjustments in feeding, education, healthcare and businesses.
“A reform that continuously makes the people poorer needs to be reassessed. An economic policy should translate to improved welfare in homes, not just impressive figures at government briefings. When parents must choose between feeding their children and educating them, it shows a gap in meeting basic responsibilities,” it said.
The ADC said the 2027 election would present Nigerians with a choice between continuing with the current economic approach and embracing what it described as the relief programme proposed by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.
The party restated its presidential candidate’s commitment to reducing the price of petrol by supporting domestic production of fuel, which it said would help ease the cost of food, transportation and production.
“Economic reform must serve the people. Nigeria as an oil-producing country should ensure that citizens do not experience every visit to a filling station as a burden,” it said.
The party urged the Federal Government to address the hardship associated with rising fuel prices.
“The people are suffering, businesses are struggling, and hope is becoming expensive. President Tinubu must act now,” the party said.