SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) earlier this week announced, the increase of PMS popularly called petrol from N568 per litre to N898 per litre.
Pro-democracy group, the Take It Back Movement (TIB) has condemned the President Bola Tinubu-led administration saying it is cruel in hiking the pump prices of the premium motor spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol.
SaharaReporters reported that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) earlier this week announced, the increase of PMS popularly called petrol from N568 per litre to N898 per litre.
It had been reported that petrol stations in Enugu State and across the country are now selling the product for as high as N1200 and N1250.
But reacting to the new hike in petrol, TIB Movement called on Nigerians to join the group to reject the new pump price, and join them in protest to demand that the Tinubu's government addresses the 15-point demands of the #EndBadGovernance protests.
"It's time to hold the government accountable for prioritising foreign interests over the welfare of millions of Nigerians," the group said this in a statement signed by its National Coordinator and Public Relations Officer, Sanyaolu Juwon and Olabiyi Ade Stephen, respectively.
The group noted that it was Tinubu regime's failure to address the demands of the August protests, with hashtag #EndBadGovernance that the organisation announced a national protest slated to commence on October 1, Nigeria's Independence Day.
It recalled that integral to the August #EndBadGovernance protest was the call to fully reinstate fuel subsidy, make energy cheap, and affordable to Nigerians.
"This we believe will go a long way in tackling the rising inflation in the country. Many small businesses are closing up due to high cost of fuel, and electricity. Tertiary institutions have used this as a justification for burdensome fee increments. Even private companies are folding up on this basis, leading to job losses.
"Sadly, President Tinubu did not only ignore protest demands, he has on the contrary ordered another increment in price of fuel to the tune of one thousand naira. No doubt, the continuous persecution of journalists, opposition voices, trade unions, and young people who participated in the end-bad-governance protest is a clear attempt to intimidate Nigerians into accepting more IMF-driven policies that perpetuate poverty.
"While the Tinubu government continues to blackmail Nigerians into accepting his poverty driven policies, asking poor Nigerians to accept being overtaxed, tighten their belt, the President and his overfed cronies continue to live fat off our collective wealth, buying private jets, SUVs, and have not stopped receiving huge emoluments including occasional “prayers” in their bank accounts.
"No doubt, the current fuel price increase is a harsh blow to millions of poor Nigerians. This decision will lead to further job losses and economic hardship.
"Accordingly, we condemn the price hike as thoughtless and cruel. We call on Nigerians to join us, rise up in protest, reject the hike, and demand that the Tinubu government addresses the 15-point demands of the end bad governance protests. It's time to hold the government accountable for prioritising foreign interests over the welfare of millions of Nigerians."