The Labour Party (LP) criticised the recent increase in petrol prices in the country, claiming that it marks the start of hard times for Nigerians.
Nigerians awoke on Tuesday to find that the price of petrol had been reduced at gasoline stations across the country, including those operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). While NNPCL increased the pump price from N540 to N617 per litre, other filling stations charge a higher price.
Reacting to the situation, the opposition party said Nigerians do not deserve what they are getting from the present government.
In a statement on Tuesday, LP National Publicity Secretary, Obiora Ifoh, stated that the party warned Nigerians against voting for the government of All Progressives Congress for continuity.
“Recall that we had earlier warned that the bourgeoisie government in place can only enrich the upper class and inflict penury on the proletariat,” the statement read.
“You offer a paltry N8000 to a family of five and extract all they have laboured for through obnoxious policies.”
The LP’s spokesman, however, did not indicate what his party would have done differently if it had won the presidential election in February, especially as its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, had, like President Bola Tinubu, promised to remove subsidy on petrol if elected president.
Earlier, the NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Mele Kyari, attributed the rise in petrol pump prices in Nigeria to market forces.
He said with deregulation of the oil sector, market realities will force the prices of petrol up sometimes and at other times force the prices down.
The NNPCL boss said the increase in the price per litre of petrol from over N500 to N617 is not a supply issue, assuring Nigerians that the country has “robust supply” of the vital commodity.
Kyari said Nigeria has over 32 days of supply and not short of petrol.