Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has condemned in strongest terms the pervasive and persistent climate of apprehension, anxiety and uncertainty on the price of premium motor spirit (PMS)
The Rights group said it was inconceivable that the petroleum sector that President himself supervises as the senior Minister can not provide clarity and certainty regarding the stability and affordability of petrol which remains critical to the economic survival of the masses and Corporate entities.
HURIWA said it is regrettable that at a time most countries are introducing innovative replacements for petrol and diesel so as to protect the environment and the biodiversity, Nigeria still operates with the mindset of the 18th century because of the gross incompetence of the political class that have hijacked the country.
Also, HURIWA expressed disappointment that two agencies under the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources which is headed by President Buhari namely, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Petroleum pricing Regulatory agency (PPPRA) are at each other’s throats over the exact price of petrol just as major dealers of the product have now become like shylock and lawless entrepreneurs who decide when to sell or when to hoard the product so that they can maximise profits at the detriment of the over 100 million absolutely poor Nigerians.
In a press statement sent to Elombahnews and signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director, Miss Zainab Yusuf of the Rights group said the uncertainty in the price of petroleum products and the incessant hike in the pump price means that the central government lacks quality body of economic policy framers/Advisers.
It further stated that the crisis characterizing the distribution and pricing of petrol means that those in charge of the sector are absolutely incompetent, selfish, petty, greedy, corrupt and are bent on destabilizing the already fragile economy of the world’s largest black nation.
HURIWA warned that the massive scale of poverty, unemployment and hunger afflicting over 100 million Nigerians who are too poor to feed on three meals per day could culminate in a mass action whose end may be catastrophic.
It appealed to government to be considerate, sensitive, responsible and rational in decision making and implementation because the constant increment in the costs of goods and services without the commensurate improvements in the purchasing power of the National currency vis-a-vis the Inter National currencies in a massively non productive nation like Nigeria would mean only one thing- absolute misery for the already impoverished population.
HURIWA has therefore asked Nigerians to be vigilant and to always take mass action to pass a message of rejection of oppressive and suppressive tendencies amongst officials of government since according to it, it is only active citizens that can serve as safeguards against tyranny, oppression and the total economic annihilation of the masses which the incoherent and inconsistent pricing policy in the critical sectors of the economy represents.