Netizens knock Tinubu for dishing out ‘shege’ without adequate palliative
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Activists and commenters on social media have lambasted President Bola Tinubu for escalating national “shege” (meaning hardship or torture or horror) with fuel subsidy removal without providing succour, as pump price has risen twice in less than two months.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) at the weekend adjusted pump price to N600 per litre, up on N488, with the actual price ranging between N617 and N700 depending on which part of the country purchase is made.
Activists trooped to Twitter to lament the fuel price jump that has made life more unbearable as it triggered higher transportation costs with the multiplier effects in increases in the prices of all goods and services across the country
Their views are expressed below, as collated by The PUNCH:
@firstladyship
“NNPC fuel price is now N617/litre. I hope you are enjoying the renewed shege?”
@PoojaMedia
“President Tinubu needs to address the nation NOW. Hunger is walking on the streets of Nigeria.”
@trending_medic
“Fuel at N617/litre and dollar hitting N835/$. Thank God it’s only Obidients that will suffer it.”
@OfficialUdiBoy
“Fuel has gone up to N617, renewed hope has turned to renewed shege. E go touch everybody until we get the mandate back.”
@YemieFash
“The same petrol that was N190/litre two months ago is N617/litre. Is this the renewed hope?”
@KhaleedSZN
“Not up to a month and Tinubu times are this hard!! No way in hell I am buying fuel for N617. Once my phone goes off now na till NEPA bring light next.”
@SodiqTade
“Dear Tinubu Boys, A litre of fuel is now selling for N617, almost two months after the removal of subsidy by Tinubu. Do you still think the N8,000 per household will cushion the possible effects of this new price?
“It seems Nigerians have entered one chance with this mandate.”
@Shayor19
“N617/litre and we are going to just adapt and move on like nothing happened? We are gradually missing Buhari right now.”
@sirvicbrown
“When Tinubu said he was going to continue from where Buhari stopped, many of us didn’t really understand. Am sure it is clear now?”
@The_D1amond
“The economy is not funny anymore… This is proof that it’s not getting better anytime soon. The government is against us, the economy is also against us.
“If you know what’s best for you, start investing in online skills that would help you earn in dollars.”
The Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Independent Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) also expressed their views outside social media.
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Related articles:
BREAKING: Tinubu orders review of N8,000 palliative after outrage by Nigerians
Fuel subsidy removal saves treasury N100b per week
‘Tinubu loyalists’ among Nigerians reeling under his 7.5% fuel tax
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Laoye Jaiyeole (NESG President)
“It [fuel price increase] is already leading to inflation. It is a tough time, no doubt, but what is critical is for us to begin to act quickly.
“Let me tell you something, in 2015 before the first inflation in 2016, we saw this coming and at NESG we gave them three scenarios.
“We asked that there are difficult decisions the nation needs to take and we didn’t take them, we ran away from them, maybe if we had taken those decisions it may not be as bad as this. Now the tough choices are being taken and I must confess they are tough.
“Giving succor to those that are less privileged is one, but you know we cannot continue to share money, we have to boost production. By boosting production it means we are going to ask ourselves what we are going to do about food and the productive sector. How do we ensure that we have electricity?”
Mike Osatuyi (IPMAN Operations National Controller)
“With crude oil price already attaining $82/litre at the international market, and the exchange rate around N800/$, the pump price will definitely attain around N700/litre.
“New [fuel] stock will arrive any moment from the third week in July. But you know crude is now around $82/barrel, and the exchange rate is around N800. So, the new price would be determined by these two factors,” he said.
Abuja residents lament
Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) decried the hike in petrol price, as transporters have increased their fares by between N100 and N200.
“Many of us may not be coming out all the time again because how do we calculate the transport and our profit? Some of us also deliver money to the owners of the vehicles at the end of the day so it is going to be difficult,” moaned Danladi Usman, a commercial vehicle operator in Abuja.