Fuel - Nupeng, Afenifere, Islamic Council Warn Yar'Adua - Daily Champion

30 November 2007
Posted to the web 30 November 2007

SOPURUCHI ONWUKA and KOLA ADEPOJU
Lagos/Abeokuta

OPPOSITION to Federal government's planned increase in prices of Petroleum Products mounted yesterday with different groups warning President Umaru Musa Yar'Adua to shelve the plan or face the wrath of Nigerians.

Leading the opposition were Supreme Council for Islamic Affair (NSCIA) and the pan Yoruba political pressure group, Afenifere which warned Yar'Adua's government to be ready to incur the wrath of Nigerians should it go ahead and increase the pump price of petroleum products. Similarly, oil workers have warned against the proposed hike in price of petroleum products.

Minister of State for Energy, Odein Ajumogobia shocked the nation on Wednesday when he announced of government's plan to review upwards pump head charges of petroleum products. Prices were increased last May.

Reacting in separate interviews with our correspondent in Abeokuta, Secretary General of NSCIA, (Dr) Abdul-Lateef Adegbite said the planed increase is not acceptable, adding that it was a breach of the President's promise to Nigerians not to do so until after a year.

Adegbite who, though symphatised with the federal government over the sharp increase in the world price crude of oil said, the development was not enough to warrant local increment.

He said the issue of jerking-up pump prices of fuel would have arise if the federal government is committed to repairing it refineries, adding that would have saved the country the rising cost of importing fuel.

Adegbite stressed that since federal government had failed in this responsibility, it should not make Nigerians, scape goat.

Instead, the NSCIA scribe said government should look inward for adjustment, adding that if the increase is inevitable it should then be staggered in a range of six months with slight increment at every stage. Full Story