The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and several civil society organisations have condemned the latest increase in petrol prices, accusing the Federal Government and petroleum industry operators of deepening the economic pressure on Nigerians.
The groups also questioned the effectiveness of government regulatory agencies, alleging that consumers are being left exposed to what they described as exploitative practices in the downstream petroleum sector.
Their reactions followed fresh adjustments to petrol pump prices across the country, with labour and civil society groups demanding greater transparency in the pricing of petroleum products and stronger protection for consumers.
The NLC Assistant General Secretary, Chris Onyeka, alleged that powerful interests were working against 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 argued that the latest increase was difficult to justify, particularly against the backdrop of relatively stable international crude oil prices and improvements in the exchange rate compared with previous months.
“The only justification for increasing petroleum product prices can only be seen from the standpoint of capitalist greed and the benefits of monopoly,” he stated.
Onyeka also raised concerns over the growing influence of a small number of major players within the petroleum industry, warning that such dominance could create room for arbitrary price adjustments.
He criticised government regulators for what he described as being “worryingly silent” in the face of rising petrol prices.
According to him, Nigeria may continue to experience recurring fuel price shocks unless domestic refining capacity is strengthened, particularly through the rehabilitation and full operation of government-owned refineries.
CISLAC Demands Regulatory Oversight
The Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) aligned with the concerns raised by organised labour, noting that households are already contending with higher transportation expenses, food inflation and weakened purchasing power.
CISLAC Executive Director, Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, warned that deregulation should not be allowed to undermine consumer protection.
“Deregulation cannot mean absence of regulation, transparency or consumer protection,” Vanguard him as saying.
Rafsanjani called on the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) and other relevant agencies to examine the latest price movement.
He urged the agencies to determine the factors responsible for the increase and investigate whether anti-competitive practices may have contributed to the development.
ActionAid Seeks Transparency in Petrol Pricing
ActionAid Nigeria also called for government intervention, insisting that transparency must be maintained throughout the petrol pricing process while consumers are protected against unfair market practices.
The ActionAid Country Director, Dr Andrew Mamedu, noted that increases in the cost of petrol have consequences that extend beyond the filling station, as transportation expenses, food prices, business operating costs and household incomes are all affected.
“Nigerians should not continue to bear unexplained increases in the cost of essential commodities.
“Businesses have a right to make reasonable profits, but citizens also have a right to protection from exploitation,” he said.
Mamedu’s position reflects broader concerns among civil society groups that rising energy costs could further reduce the disposable income of households already struggling with elevated living expenses.
IPMAN Blames Dangote Refinery for Latest Increase
Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the latest pump price adjustment to successive increases in the ex-depot price of petrol by the Dangote Refinery.
IPMAN National Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike, said petroleum marketers had little choice but to adjust their pump prices to prevent losses.
“Every time Dangote increases his price, our price will also rise,” Ukadike said.
He disclosed that the refinery’s gantry price moved from N1,165 per litre to N1,185, before rising again to N1,200 per litre within one week.
The price adjustments have already begun affecting consumers, with several filling stations in Abuja increasing their pump prices.
Ukadike also questioned the continued importation of petrol at higher costs despite the availability of locally refined products.
He argued that stronger support for domestic refining could help stabilise the downstream petroleum market, reduce dependence on imported products and ease pressure on the foreign exchange market.
Calls Grow for Accountability in Downstream Sector
The latest development has renewed calls for greater accountability across Nigeria’s petroleum value chain, with labour and civil society groups insisting that deregulation must be accompanied by effective oversight.
While marketers have attributed the latest increase to higher supply costs, the NLC and CSOs are demanding greater scrutiny of the factors driving petrol prices and stronger intervention from regulatory authorities.
The groups warned that sustained increases in fuel prices could further compound the economic difficulties faced by households and businesses, particularly through higher transportation costs and the subsequent increase in the prices of goods and services.
They therefore urged government agencies to strengthen monitoring of the downstream petroleum sector, protect consumers from unfair practices and ensure that pricing mechanisms remain transparent.
