President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has assured Nigerians that he will keep his promises despite the country’s current difficulties.
Tinubu said this on Wednesday in his address to Muslims to herald in the New Islamic Year, urging them to adopt the Prophet Muhammad’s defining characteristics of patience, perseverance, and loyalty.
Additionally, he exhorted the populace to engage in prayers and supplications to God Almighty to guide and secure Nigeria’s path to greatness and prosperity.
Tinubu stated, “As we persevere and struggle to overcome our current obstacles and the temporary pain we are experiencing, I encourage you to maintain hope that there is light and prosperity at the end of the tunnel.”
Despite the current difficulties, my team and I are leaving no stone uncovered in our efforts to fulfill our commitments.
“As we usher in the New Islamic Year, I urge you all to engage in prayers and supplications to God Almighty to direct and protect our path to greatness and prosperity in Nigeria.”
Tinubu’s message arrived at a time when Nigerians are grumbling about the rise in the price of gasoline, which has pushed up the cost of living in the country.
Tinubu stated in his inaugural address on May 29, 2023, that the gasoline subsidy was no longer practicable and had been eliminated.
On Tuesday, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) set new prices per liter across the nation, which increased to N617 per liter in the federal capital territory (FCT), Abuja, and N560 per liter in Lagos.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has rejected the new retail pump price of N617 per liter of gasoline.
During an interview, NLC president Joe Ajaero stated that Nigerians are being deceived on the issue of gasoline pricing.
While denying the new fuel pump price, Ajaero added that the populace is being punished unnecessarily.
The NLC president stated, “President Bola Tinubu’s administration is playing with Nigerians, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) is only half clever.”
“Why would the government seek a court injunction and use other measures if it is not their business if the government has withdrawn subsidies for petroleum products and there is another price increase just as committee meetings are about to begin?”
"It appears that we have entered a reign in which Nigerians are unjustly punished and falsehoods are everywhere.
Ajaero stated, “NNPCL cannot import and claim that the commodity is imported by marketers; this is false.”
NNPCL attributed the increase in fuel pump prices from N540/liter to N617/liter to “market forces in play.”
After meeting with Vice President Kashim Shettima at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPCL, Mele Kyari, explained.
According to Kyari, who spoke with State House Correspondents, the problem is not a lack of product supply; rather, the forces of demand and supply in the marketing value chain were simply exerting their influence.
He stated that importers of fuel products were acquiring confidence in the system, noting that price fluctuations were inevitable.
"I do not have the details right now. However, we have a marketing department. They adjust prices based on market conditions, as Kyari explained.
“This is exactly what is occurring; this is the significance of ensuring that the market self-regulates so that prices fluctuate up and down.” This is what we have observed and how the market actually operates."
Senator George Akume, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), implored Nigerians on Tuesday to endure the pains of the removal of petrol subsidies because he believes the country will reap the benefits.
Despite their hardships, Akume expressed confidence in a bright future for Nigerians while seeking support for President Tinubu’s administration.
He provided this assurance when he met with a delegation of the North Central People’s Forum (NCPF), led by Senator Jeremiah Useni of Sardauna Plateau.
The withdrawal of the oil subsidy would have a negative effect on the cost of living for the average Nigerian, according to Akume, who predicted a significant improvement in the living conditions of the country’s citizens.
This government will not let Nigerians down. The President has good intentions, but we can err. When we err, please rectify us."
According to him, President Tinubu’s brave actions have had a positive effect on the economy and sent positive signals to policymakers, both domestic and foreign, as an indication that the federal government meant business.