Fuel Price Hike: NLC, CSOs Raise Alarm as Marketers Blame Dangote Refinery

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and several civil society organisations have expressed concern over the latest increase in the pump price of petrol across the country, warning that the development could further worsen the economic hardship facing Nigerians.

The groups accused government agencies and petroleum industry operators of failing to adequately protect consumers from what they described as unjustified increases in the downstream petroleum sector.

Reacting to the latest price adjustment, NLC Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, alleged that powerful interests were working against the interests of ordinary Nigerians.
“There is a gang-up against the Nigerian masses by the elite, unfortunately with the seeming support of the ruling class,” Onyeka said.

He questioned the justification for the latest increase, arguing that crude oil prices had remained relatively stable while the foreign exchange situation had improved compared with previous months.

According to him, continued dominance by a few major operators could create conditions for arbitrary price increases if effective regulation is not maintained.
“The only justification for increasing petroleum product prices can only be seen from the standpoint of capitalist greed and the benefits of monopoly,” he said.

Onyeka also called for the revival and full operation of Nigeria’s local refineries, particularly government-owned facilities, arguing that greater domestic refining capacity would help reduce the frequency of fuel price shocks.

The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) also criticised the latest increase, noting that Nigerians were already contending with high transportation costs, food inflation and declining purchasing power.

CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, said deregulation should not be allowed to undermine consumer protection.
“Deregulation cannot mean absence of regulation, transparency or consumer protection,” he said.

Rafsanjani urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and other relevant agencies to investigate the factors responsible for the latest increase and determine whether anti-competitive practices were involved.
Similarly, ActionAid Nigeria called for greater transparency in petrol pricing and stronger measures to protect consumers from unfair market practices.

ActionAid Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, said increases in petrol prices have immediate consequences for transportation, food prices, businesses and household incomes.

He maintained that while businesses were entitled to reasonable profits, consumers also deserved protection from exploitation.

Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the latest pump price increase to repeated adjustments in the ex-depot price of petrol by the Dangote Refinery.

IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike, said marketers had been compelled to adjust their pump prices to avoid operating at a loss.
“Every time Dangote increases his price, our price will also rise,” Ukadike said.

He alleged that the refinery's gantry price increased from N1,165 per litre to N1,185 and subsequently to N1,200 per litre within a week.

The latest development has already resulted in higher pump prices at some filling stations in Abuja.
Ukadike also questioned the continued importation of petrol at relatively high prices despite the availability of locally refined products.

He argued that stronger support for domestic refining could help stabilise petrol prices, reduce dependence on imported products and ease pressure on Nigeria's foreign exchange market.

The development has renewed calls for greater transparency in petroleum pricing and stronger regulatory oversight to ensure that consumers are not subjected to unjustified price increases.

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