CSOs protest against Buhari's govt over fuel price hike, more hardship

Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, the former Attorney General of Edo State has led a coalition of Civil society groups against the proposed increase in the pump price of petroleum products by President Muhammadu Buhari’s government.


This comes barely 24 hours after the Government said it will take a decision on the pricing in June 2022, ostensibly to ward-off any form of agitation by the Nigerian workers and other affiliate groups. 


Members of the coalition on Friday morning marched round famous King square in Benin City with their banners, bearing inscriptions such as ‘No to more hardship’, ‘No to rise in fuel price’, ‘End poverty in Nigeria now’, refine Nigeria oil in Nigeria’ before retiring to the National Benin Museum ground. 


Joint security personnel and officials of Edo State Management Agency (EDTMA) and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), were on ground to ensure that the peaceful rally is not hijacked by hoodlums and cause into public nuisance.


Briefing Journalists, South-South Coordinator, People Alternative Movement, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana, lamented that the current system operated by the government has entrusted the wealth of the nation into the hands of the few by trying to privatize the refineries instead of building more and refurbishing the moribund ones. 


“Actually, the mess we find ourselves in this country, is the greed of the few.


“The Petroleum Industry Act will facilitate the domination of the Nigerian Petroleum industry by a few. In fact, that is one of the reasons that they are hesitant to get the refineries working because what they have in mind is privatization.


“A few individuals will own the wealth that this Country (Nigeria) has been blessed with.


“That is not going to result to redistribution of the wealth of Nigeria rather it further polarize, the rich will be getting richer and the poor will be getting poorer. 


“We have unions in the industry.

PNUPENGum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) is one, Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) is another. They know what the challenges are in the oil industry but their positions are not taken into consideration in the formulations of policies.


“So, we cannot talk of whipping away unemployment, homelessness and hunger in Nigeria by handing over the oil deposit of Nigeria to a few. That will be more demoralizing. 


“Is it possible to abolish poverty? Is it possible to abolish homelessness? Is it possible to abolish unemployment? “, he queried. 


According to Obayuwana, what the nation needs at the moment is an institutionalized partnership between labour, Civil societies, professional organizations and the people as a whole, to collectively managing the affairs of this country side by side with those who temporarily are occupying public offices.


He said the system right now, is that those who have been elected from 1999 to date, have used governmental processes to create business opportunities for themselves instead of creating for the masses. 


The former Edo State attorney general insisted that the protest must continue until the federal government renege on their proposed petroleum pump price increment.


Speaking also, immediate past Public Relations Officer, Edo Civil Society Organization (EDOCSO), Osazee Edigin, said, the proposed increment of fuel is uncalled for in a period most Nigerians are struggling to feed themselves. 


He described the move as an act of insensitivity on the path of the federal government in collusion with their state governments counterparts just as he insisted that it would be resisted by all meaning Citizens as the votes for the present administration is not for it to kill everyone with hunger. 










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