Zikirullahi Suggests Government Testing Nigerians’ Limits with Petrol and Electricity Price Hikes
Ibrahim M. Zikirullahi, the Executive Director of the Resource Centre for Human Rights and Civic Education (CHRICED), has raised concerns about the potential economic repercussions and public unrest due to the proposed increases in electricity tariffs and fuel prices in Nigeria, especially considering the country’s ongoing socio-economic challenges.
In a statement released on Friday, Zikirullahi expressed dismay at the conflicting reports about the alleged plans to raise petrol prices and electricity tariffs, describing them as troubling and unacceptable. He highlighted that the controversy surrounding these issues, especially following the World Bank’s remarks on the matter, indicates a disregard for the welfare of Nigerians by the federal government.
Despite denials from the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) regarding the proposed hikes, Zikirullahi suggested that there might be more to the situation than meets the eye. He remarked that the persistent debates over these price increases could be interpreted as the government testing the resilience of the Nigerian populace and assessing their tolerance for further hardships.
Referring to the World Bank’s Chief Economist’s statement in December about the need to adjust the petrol price to reflect its true cost, potentially reaching N750 or higher, Zikirullahi criticized the government for seemingly disregarding the challenges faced by ordinary citizens. He lamented that while many Nigerians are still grappling with economic difficulties caused by existing policies, the government appears focused on imposing additional burdens.
Zikirullahi also highlighted the irony of President Bola Tinubu’s recent statements about understanding the people’s suffering while simultaneously facing the prospect of new hardships in the coming year.
Daily Trust
