President Muhammadu Buhari should ‘immediately reverse’ the new policy measure he announced for a deregulation of Nigeria’s petroleum downstream because of the “unbearable” effects it will have on Nigerians, a senator from Kogi State, Dino Melaye, has warned.
Mr. Melaye, writing on his Facebook page Thursday night, said the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress should intervene in the matter, threatening to mobilise Nigerians for mass protests if his demand is not met.
Mr. Melaye posted the demand from London where he’s currently attending an anti-corruption summit with Mr. Buhari.
“My sincere advise is for the National Chairman of party to our party to suggest that the federal government immediately reverse the announced increase in the pump price of PMS,” Mr. Melaye wrote. “If after 7 days from Monday there is no reversal, I will mobilize Nigerians from all walks of life for the mother of all protest. This is not what we promised Nigerians. The time is not right and the negative effects will be unbearable. A word is enough for the wise.”
The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Ibe Kachikwu, had on Wednesday announced the new measure which saw the price of a litre of petrol skyrocket from ₦87 to ₦145, confirming a PREMIUM TIMES’ report that alerted Nigerians to the plan by the federal government.
Civil society groups, including the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Transition Monitoring Group, have also rejected the measure and vowed to mobilise Nigerians for a forceful reversal.
