Former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar (rtd) has warned the Federal Government against increasing the pump price of petrol.
He warned that a hike in the price of the product would push more Nigerians into poverty.
Abdulsalami stated this at the 19th Daily Trust Dialogue in Abuja, on Thursday.
Recall that an ad-hoc committee of the National Economic Council (NEC) interfacing with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) on the appropriate pricing of petrol in Nigeria recommended an increase to N302 per litre.
Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed said in 2021 that FG planned to remove fuel subsidy in 2022.
However, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) warned against the move, while harping on the spiral effect on the nation’s economy.
Reacting to the planned hike, Abdulsalami said, “The expected fuel price increment will push more Nigerians into poverty.
“Over 80 million Nigerians are still cut off by poverty. Nigeria faces a food crisis worsened by the global COVID-19 pandemic.”
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