By Akinwale Kasali
Minister for Information and National Oriention, Lai Mohammed, has come under fire over his comments that the cost of fuel and electricity is still very cheap in Nigeria when compared to the cost in other countries.
Mohammed, in the heat of the National outrage over the increase in the tariffs, said despite that, Nigerians are still paying less, saying the prices are still the lowest in Central and West Africa.
Reacting to this claim, the main opposition Party, PDP, warned that the increase could push more Nigerians into committing suicide, and force many more to travel abroad where they would become slaves.
The party, also, warned President Muhammadu Buhari of the dire consequences of the increase at this trying COVID-19 pandemic period.
According to the PDP, price of petrol may increase the rate of suicide among Nigerians, and that the increment may lead to Nigerians resorting to slavery abroad.
It also lambasted Minister Mohammed for making such statements at a time the citizens are striving to make ends meet.
Kola Ologbodiyan, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, described Mohammed’s assertion as irrational, wicked and outrageous.
He also stressed that the hike was insensitive.
In a statement he issued, Ologbondiyan said: “We remind President Buhari that this hike will worsen the scary situation in the last five years, where compatriots are resorting to suicide, slavery mission abroad as well as selling of their children as options.
“PDP, therefore, rejects the highly irrational argument by the Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, that fuel price is higher in most West African countries, without presenting the contradictory economic settings in those countries and ours”
The sudden increase in the tariffs of fuel and electricity had sparked outrage nationwide. In some states, many people have taken to the streets in protest. Some went to the office of the NLC and the TUC, to ask what the Unions were doing to protest the hike.
The request is for a reversal, but the Federal Government says there is no going back on the increase.
In Tuesday, the PPPRA, said it has hands-off the fixing of the pump price of petrol, and had left it to market forces, as fuel is an international product.
Said the FG “The era of fuel subsidy is gone forever.” The Presidency has also hailed the President, saying he is the only person, with enough courage to take the bull by the horn.
At the onset of the Goodluck Jonathan Government, he had tried to cut down on the subsidy by raising the price of fuel, but he was met by an unprecedented sponsored protest in Lagos. Most of those commending and upholding the increase now we’re in the forefront of the protest and condemnation of Jonathan.
When he left Government the price of fuel was N87 per litre. Now, it is N162.
The Private Sector has, however, hailed the end of the era of fuel subsidy, and the increase in electricity tariff.
