March 16, (THEWILL) — Concerned Nigerians, groups and farmers have warned that if the pump price of petrol continues to rise, following the ongoing war in the Middle East which hiked the price of crude, it will have far-reaching consequences for the economy and the people.
Worried about the implications of the rising costs of petrol on food production, the All Farmers Association of Nigeria, AFAN, has called on the Federal Government to intervene by providing fuel.
President of the association, Mohammed Magaji, in a statement demanded that the Federal Government make fuel available and affordable to farmers and other Nigerians at a reasonable price, saying food production depends on fuel availability.
Magaji added that if things continue the way they are without any intervention, farmers will be affected and also food prices will go up beyond the reach of Nigerians.
For the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, the Federal Government must urgently intervene to cushion the effects of the recent spike in petrol prices. It called for a cost-of-living allowance, a wage award for workers, tax relief, and immediate steps to revive the country’s public refineries.
The labour union said the sharp rise in fuel prices—now selling between N1,170 and N1,300 per litre—has worsened the economic hardship facing Nigerian workers and citizens, warning that the nation risks severe social unrest if urgent measures are not taken.
NLC also accused the government of leaving Nigerians at the mercy of the volatile global oil prices triggered by the escalating Middle East crisis, noting that the situation has exposed the fragility of Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector and deepened the suffering of workers and their families.
There is an indication that food prices will increase in the coming weeks, as predicted. Transportation costs have already started increasing across the country. And the strain is telling on the faces and purses of commuters. We believe that if it summons the will, the current Federal Government is capable of alleviating the suffering of the average Nigerian. But will it even be bothered?
