MUSLIM GROUP ADVOCATES SUB-N700 FUEL PRICE AMID FALLING COSTS
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By; Ganiyat Sunmola
The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has urged the Federal Government to compel petroleum marketers to reduce the pump price of petrol, insisting there is no justification for the commodity to sell above N1,000 per litre following the decline in global crude oil prices.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the group attributed the drop in international oil prices to the easing of tensions in the Gulf region following the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States.
According to the group, the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel had contributed to the rise in petroleum product prices globally, but with hostilities subsiding, fuel prices should reflect the new market realities.
“The America/Israel against Iran war that forced the prices of petroleum products up has subsided following the ceasefire agreement between Iran and America; hence, there is no basis for petroleum marketers in Nigeria to keep the price of Premium Motor Spirit above N1,000 per litre,” the statement said.
MMWG described the continued high cost of petrol as insensitive and inhumane, accusing marketers of worsening the economic hardship faced by Nigerians. It stressed that both petrol and diesel prices should be reduced significantly due to their direct impact on transportation and the cost of living.
The group noted that religious organisations had consistently prayed for peace and an end to the conflict in the Gulf region over the past year and questioned why Nigerians were yet to benefit from the resulting decline in oil prices.
“How could the prayers be answered and some shylocks would still continue to prolong the hardship of our people?” it asked.
It further observed that several countries affected by the conflict had already witnessed a reduction in fuel prices and expressed concern that similar relief had not been extended to Nigerians.
To alleviate the burden on citizens, the organisation called on the Federal Government to direct marketers to return petrol prices to the pre-war level of N700 per litre.
The group also urged the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) to intervene and ensure that petroleum marketers do not arbitrarily increase prices.
“It must be stated that Nigeria’s economic hardship on the people would continue if petroleum marketers are allowed to indiscriminately hike prices of petroleum products without checks,” the statement added.
While commending the Dangote Group for its contributions to local refining and efforts aimed at ensuring competitive pricing, the MMWG urged the company to take a leading role in advocating lower fuel prices to ease the hardship currently experienced by Nigerians.
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