The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria, MMWG, has called on the Federal Government to compel petroleum marketers to reduce fuel prices, insisting there is no justification for petrol to remain above N1,000 per litre following the drop in global crude oil prices.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the group said the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States has reduced tensions in the Gulf region and triggered a decline in international oil prices.
“The America/Israel against Iran war that forced the prices of the petroleum products up has subsided following ceasefire agreement between Iran and America hence, there is no basis for petroleum marketers in Nigeria to keep the price of Premium Motor Spirit in particular to above N1000 per litre,” the statement read.
The group described the continued high pump prices as highly insensitive and inhuman, accusing petroleum marketers of worsening the economic burden on Nigerians.
According to MMWG, petrol and diesel prices have direct effects on transportation, food costs, and overall living expenses, making immediate price reductions necessary to ease hardship.
The group noted that religious bodies across the country had intensified prayers over the past year for an end to the Gulf conflict.
“How could the prayers be answered and some shylocks would still continue to prolong the hardship of our people?” it queried.
MMWG also pointed to reports indicating that other countries affected by the conflict are already witnessing reduced fuel prices, questioning why Nigeria has yet to experience similar relief.
To cushion the hardship faced by citizens, the organization urged the Federal Government to direct marketers to revert to the pre war pump price of N700 per litre.
It also called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission to intervene immediately to protect consumers from arbitrary pricing.
“It must be stated that Nigeria’s economic hardship on the people would continue if the petroleum marketers are allowed to indiscriminately hike prices of petroleum products without check,” the group warned.
The organization commended the Dangote Group for its role in advancing petroleum refining reforms and efforts toward fair pricing.
However, it urged the company to take further steps by leading efforts to push fuel prices lower in order to ease the severe economic pressure currently facing Nigerians.
The group maintained that reducing fuel prices remains one of the fastest ways to provide relief to millions of struggling households and businesses across the country.
