A Civil Society Organization, Empowerment for Unemployed Youth Initiative (EUYI), has begun organizing a peaceful protest, rallying youths, unemployed individuals, and others facing daily economic hardship, against the recent increase in fuel prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
Speaking to journalists in Abuja, EUYI’s National Coordinator, Comrade Danesi Prince, and National Secretary, Comrade Igwe Ude-Umanta, expressed deep concern over the hardship Nigerians are experiencing.
They noted that the hike in fuel prices has severely worsened transportation costs, making it difficult for citizens to carry on with their daily lives.
The CSO condemned what they described as an “unjust and needless escalation” of economic suffering, even as they condemned the continuous fuel shortages in Nigeria, an oil-producing nation, calling it a national embarrassment.
“On Tuesday September 3, 2024, the NNPCL in a most insensitive move hiked the price of PMS to N855 and above, causing an immediate 40-50% increment in the cause of vehicle transportation nationwide. As we speak, the real cost of PMS in Nigeria is between N1,000-N1,300. This is in an oil rich country ravaged by poverty amidst the ostentatious lifestyles of the political and economic elites.
“Painfully, while these were going on, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who kept the portfolio of the Minister of Petroleum Resources to himself was away in far away People’s Republic of China. But very tragically, is that the person he appointed to run the oil Sector and report to him, Senator Dr, Heineken Lokpobiri, was as usual, completely out of touch with what was happening under his Ministry and core sector.
“Recall that on Tuesday, September 3, while NNPCL had astronomically increased the pump price of PMS, the Minister was in denial. 48 hours after the obvious national crisis emanating therefrom, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) has no position on the matter.
“The questions are: did Lokpobiri wilfully lie 2 days ago? Did the NNPCL bypass him and took a decision that could jeopardise National Security? What is the exact position of government in this matter so that Nigerians can face the right direction? But the Minister is mum; obviously confused.
“It is indeed a national tragedy and shame that those who have failed are kept to continue failing so that when Nigerians complain, they are branded all sorts of negative names and blackmailed. When citizens view government with cynicism and hostility under circumstances like this, they are justified
“There is a limit to what Nigerians can take. And it has gotten to a suffocating level. We, as advocates for the Unemployed and underemployed Nigerians have decided to start somewhere. And that is to call out the Political Leadership of the Oil Sector and demand his clarity of position or immediate sack.
“We call on all Unemployed and underemployed Nigeria youths who can no longer feed and can no longer go out to look for work, or go to work where the salary is below the cost of transport to troop out en mass on Tuesday September 10, 2024 for a protest and march from the National Assembly Gate to the NNPCL Towers where we will occupy the towers till there is sanity in the Oil industry.
“We have no much energy to dissipate in mobilizing and persuading anybody for a protest to save ourselves from economic extinction. If you know you have no work, or you are underpaid and you cannot bear it anymore, please meet us on Tuesday September 10, 2024 at the Gate of the National Assembly. All State leadership of the Unemployed are hereby directed to arrive Abuja on or before Monday, September 9, 2024.”
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