By Magnus Aluma
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ has raised alarm over the proposed increment in the pump price per litre of the premium motor spirit, PMS, by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC.
NUJ in a statement signed by its National Secretary, Shuaibu Leman condemned the announcement, pointing out that it has already triggered high cost of transportation across the country, and also affected the prices of food items and other essential commodities in the market.
The statement reads: “NUJ is alarmed at the just announced increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS to N617 per litre in Abuja and N568 in Lagos respectively. This development has already triggered astronomical increases in transportation costs, with prices of food items soaring almost beyond the reach of many citizens, even as users of generators to power their homes are already groaning uncontrollably under the present situation.”
Leman said while the Union applauds the decision to remove the costly subsidies on fuel, it however had cautioned against a hasty implementation of the policy without putting mitigating measures in place to cushion the effects of the new policy.
He maintained that NUJ is saddened by the fact that at the time, most Nigerians can hardly afford transport fares to their places of work and other businesses, due to the sudden increment in petrol prices.
The NUJ scribe described the development as an “over kill” and urged that the situation should be reversed immediately while adequate measures be considered and put in place to lessen the effects on ordinary Nigerians.
