Nigeria has a well-known history of price increment of petrol from 1978 to 2020. Governments over the years have one reason or the other to adjust the pump price of petrol which most times are higher. The recent announcement of a petrol price hike from N148 to N151 is not new to Nigerians but a time when the world is already grappling with the devastating effect of COVID-19 is a cause for concern. The increment reads “please be informed that a new product price adjustment has been effected on our payment platform. To this end, the price of petroleum motor spirit (PMS) is now one hundred and fifty-one naira, fifty-six kobo (151.56) per litre. This is effective 2nd September2020”.

A visit to many petrol stations shows an adjustment in their pump price with most indicating N180 per litre with only NNPC Mega station indicating N160. This has been greeted with harsh criticisms from different strata of society. The Nigeria labour congress in its reaction had this to say

“This latest increase in the price of petrol is indeed a crass display of complete apathy to the sufferings Nigerians are going through at this time. While other countries also going through the blues of the Covid-19 pandemic are reducing taxes, increasing welfare benefits and providing palliatives to their citizens, our own government is reducing interest rates on savings by the poor, increasing taxes and hiking tariffs on essential goods and services. Nigerians have never had it so bad.” He added: “It is said that while poor Nigerians are being pilloried by the government of the day with obscene fiscal burdens, those connected to the highest echelons of political power are daily amassing public wealth and rubbing their illicit loot on our faces. Hobbesian state of living appears to be the perfect metaphor for the state of affair today in Nigeria…
Federal government Gives Reason for the price hike in Petrol

The minister of state for petroleum resources, Timipre Sylva said as quoted by NAN “Government is no longer in the business of fixing prices for petroleum products we have stepped back”

He further noted “Deregulation will definitely come with few pains, but the survival of the country is paramount “

Nigeria has been faced with huge subsidy saga laden with corruption charges coupled with the huge infrastructural deficit. The country is richly endowed with natural human resources but its leaders have continually failed to utilize it for its growth and development.

lol. under this apc govt, nigeria as a nation is indeed in a peculiar mess.
infact presently it's really tough to be a nigerian, because nigerians are fighting for daily survival in all fronts.
we fight to survive covid 1 9 pandemic, bandits, boko-harram, Fulani-herdsmen, police brutality, un-checked inflations, in a stagnant salary level, under employment, unemployment, in-adequate health-care, inefficient power supply, e.t.c.
indeed what a govt of change / next level things.

May God punish some of my southwest brothers