The National Chairman of the National Agricultural Commodities Projects (NACP), Dr. John Adekorede Aderibigbe, has condemned the Federal Government’s indifferent to the suffering of Nigerians with the recent fuel pump price hike in Nigeria from N855 to N1,100.

He said fuel price increase has triggered widespread economic strain, making life unbearable for many citizens.

Aderibigbe described the situation as alarming, stating that the Federal Government has failed to recognise the severity of the economic challenges facing the country.

He criticized the government’s inability to offer relief to the masses, especially when the cost of living has skyrocketed.

He emphasised that a responsible government should prioritise the welfare of its citizens, yet the current administration has exacerbated their suffering by approving this latest price hike.

According to Aderibigbe, even at the former rate of N855 per liter, food prices had already surged, leaving many Nigerians struggling to afford basic necessities.

With the new price of N1,100 or higher in certain locations, he warned that the nation was sitting “on a keg of gunpowder,” and that public anger and frustration could soon explode into mass protests.

He went further to accuse the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) of adding to the woes by raising prices without prior notice, pointing out the inconsistency in pricing across different stations, where independent marketers are selling at rates as high as N1,300.

Aderibigbe urged the Federal Government to reverse the price hike and take swift action to ease the economic burden on Nigerians.

As a solution, he proposed government intervention in the Dangote Refinery by offering foreign exchange at a subsidised rate of N900 to N1000 per dollar.

He argued that this move could stabilise fuel prices and bring relief to the population.

Aderibigbe, however, emphasised that a government should never enact policies that harm its people.

He warned that if the current economic conditions are not addressed urgently, the country could be heading toward dictatorial governance, where the needs of the people are ignored.