Some civil society organizations (CSOs) on Wednesday condemned the federal government's approval of a new fuel price hike, which has seen Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) soar to N897 per litre.
This development came amid growing discontent over the country's economic situation.
The sudden increase, effective nationwide, has sparked widespread outrage, with independent filling stations selling petrol for as high as N950 to N1,000 per litre.
The CSOs, under the aegis of the Network Against Corruption and Trafficking (NACAT), described the hike as an affront to the collective well-being of the Nigerian people and demanded an immediate reversal.
NACAT's Operations Manager, Stanley Ugagbe, stated that the increase directly contradicts the government's promise to maintain stable fuel prices, as agreed during negotiations for the N70,000 minimum wage.
The CSOs criticized the government's perceived indifference toward the suffering of Nigerians, citing the devastating impact of previous policy decisions.
According to them, the administration seems to have forgotten that it was the culmination of such policies and resulting hardships that fueled the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
The group called on Nigerians to rise against the government's toxic economic hardships and demanded accountability, vowing to continue fighting for justice, as well as the rights and dignity of every Nigerian.
Ugagbe said, "This latest increase is nothing short of a betrayal of the public trust. It is an egregious affront to the collective well-being of the Nigerian people, who have already been subjected to untold hardships by a series of failed policies. The government's cavalier attitude towards the suffering of the masses is deeply troubling and unacceptable.
"Corruption thrives where poverty prevails. We know very well that with the increment of fuel, everything in the country will immediately skyrocket in prices and this will give room to civil servants as well as public office holders to steal more in order to cover up the cost of things.
"We are troubled that this administration, which ascended to power on the promise of 'Renewed Hope,' has instead become a thorn in the flesh of the Nigerian people. The barrage of draconian and wicked policies being rolled out has left citizens gasping for air. This government has seemingly forgotten that it was a culmination of such bad policies and the resulting hardship that fueled the recent nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests.
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"NACAT unequivocally rejects this hike in fuel prices and demands an immediate reversal. We call on all Nigerians to rise in their might, to speak out, and to reject this continued imposition of toxic economic hardships that could push our nation into an irredeemable abyss.
"This government's history of unaccountability since its inception is a matter of grave concern. It has repeatedly demonstrated an unfathomable level of impunity, incompetence, and reckless corruption, all while imposing the most severe economic hardships on Nigerians since the amalgamation of this nation in 1914.
"We will not rest until justice is served, and the rights and dignity of every Nigerian are upheld."
