Hardship: Overhaul NNPCL now or risk civil unrest – Ohanaeze laments fuel price hike

Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the socio-cultural organization in the South-East has called on the Federal government to immediately address the country’s economic challenges birthed by the incessant increase in the pump price of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, otherwise known as petrol.

The organization warned that the failure of the Federal Government to address the challenges by overhauling the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, may lead to civil unrest.

Factional Secretary General of the organization, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro stated this while reacting to the recent hike in fuel price by the NNPCL.

This online medium recalls that the NNPCL on Wednesday jerked up the pump price of the petroleum product across the country, worsening the untoward hardship bedeviling citizens.

In the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, the product, which was previously sold for N897 per liter, was increased to N1,030 per litre.

Similarly, in Lagos State fuel price changed from N885 per litre to N998 amid long queues.

The latest adjustment came barely one month after the NNPCL announced the new price of the product following the pricing from the Dangote Refinery.

Reacting, in an exclusive interview with newsmen on Saturday, Isiguzoro declared that the “unilateral increases threaten to plunge the average Nigerian into an abyss of economic despair, especially as we approach the festive season—a time traditionally marked by joy and communal celebration”.

According to him, “the management teams and boards responsible for this abysmal state of affairs at NNPCL” must be removed.

“If immediate and decisive actions are not taken, specifically an extensive overhaul of the NNPCL from top to bottom, we risk devolving into a state of uncontainable civil unrest”, Isiguzoro said.

He lamented that “the relentless price hikes not only threatens the livelihoods of many Nigerians but also undermines public confidence in presidential governance under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu”.

The organization urged the FG to proactively support local investors engaged in establishing Compressed Natural Gas, CNG depots across zones of the country, stressing that such moves would offer solutions to the fuel crisis “exacerbated by NNPCL’s mismanagement”.

Isiguzoro further urged Nigerians to consider converting their vehicles to embrace CNG and electric alternatives.

“We implore the Federal Government to act swiftly to overhaul a corrupt and inefficient system, as failing to do so could lead to devastating consequences not only for the government under President Tinubu but for all Nigerians whose dreams and dignity are intertwined with our collective socio-economic fabric.

“We call upon all Nigerians— individuals, communities, and leaders to unite in advocating for urgent changes that will restore integrity, efficiency, and accountability to our national institutions”, he added.