ACC condemns hike of fuel price

The Allied Conservative Congress (ACC) has condemned the recent hike in fuel price, describing it as “outrageous, insensitive and ill-conceived.”

The National Chairman of ACC, Rev. Olusegun Obaje Peters, in a press statement said it is obvious that an increase in fuel price will impose more hardship on citizens, worsen their plights and further stagnate the economy.

He said it is curious that the federal government would contemplate a fuel price hike soon after the #Endhungerprotest#, as if the welfare of the people does not matter as provided for in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999, as amended, which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government. Governments at all levels are obliged to deliver fruits and dividends of democracy not hardship, hunger and carnage.

“Nigerians voted for a fair deal and better life, not deprivation, destitution and poverty. Government exists to articulate and implement people-oriented policies, programmes and projects that will boost citizens’ standards of living, not to impoverish and frustrate them. Nigerians are resilient, resourceful and industrious, they should be encouraged, motivated and provided with an enabling environment to maximise their potentials and contribute to nation building.

“Accordingly, ACC demands the immediate reversal of fuel hike from ₦880 and above to ₦617. Federal Government had assured Nigerians of lower fuel price when the last increase was imposed on them, stating that more supplies of petroleum products would bring down the prices.

“Today, the reverse is the case due to lack of political will to sanitise the oil sector of corruption and incompetence. Nigerians have suffered enough, there is no need to impose more hardship on them for any reason or for no reason whatsoever.

“ACC urges the Federal Government to approve licence to qualify Nigerians to build private refineries and remove all the bottlenecks in so doing.

“It is time to end hardship in the country through conservative governance. Nigerians desire and deserve compassionate leaders with the milk of human kindness,” he said.