SERAP asks Tinubu to reverse petrol price hike, probe NNPCL

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse what it described as an “illegal and unconstitutional” increase in the pump price of petrol.

This appeal follows a recent hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, from N617 to N897 per litre by the NNPCL. The increase occurred amid a nationwide fuel scarcity, with the national oil company attributing the hike to global market forces.

In an open letter dated September 7, 2024, SERAP stated, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations. Nigerians have for too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.”

The organisation urged President Tinubu to direct the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi SAN, and other relevant anti-corruption agencies to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPC. This includes probing the reported use of $300 million bailout funds obtained from the Federal Government in August 2024 and the $6 billion debt owed to suppliers, despite alleged failure to remit oil revenues to the treasury.

SERAP demanded that individuals suspected of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC face prosecution if sufficient evidence is found, and that any proceeds of corruption be fully recovered.

In the letter signed by Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare, SERAP criticised the government for “punishing the poor” instead of addressing the rising poverty and inequality in the country and holding the NNPC accountable for alleged corruption. The organisation stated that the increase in petrol prices has made it harder for already impoverished citizens to meet their basic needs for survival.

“The increase is not inevitable; it results from the persistent failure of successive governments to address corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector and the impunity of suspected perpetrators,” the letter said. SERAP emphasised that corruption in the oil sector and a lack of transparency and accountability in using public funds have led to continuous and unlawful increases in petrol prices.

The group also expressed concern about the growing economic hardships caused by the price hike, stating, “As the economic situation in Nigeria deteriorates, the increase in petrol prices is pushing people further into poverty.”

SERAP gave the government 48 days to respond to its demands, warning that if it does not receive a satisfactory response, it would consider taking appropriate legal action to compel the government to comply in the public interest.

The organisation highlighted the constitutional and international obligations of the government to ensure the minimum living conditions compatible with human dignity, stating that the recent price hike places a disproportionate burden on marginalised and vulnerable sectors of society.

SERAP called on the government to investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC, insisting that such actions would align with the Nigerian Constitution and international anti-corruption commitments. The organisation cited several sections of the Nigerian Constitution, including Section 13, which mandates the government to apply the provisions of Chapter 2, and Section 15(5), which calls for the abolition of corrupt practices.

According to SERAP, the NNPCL’s recent petrol price increase to as much as N900 per litre followed a scarcity caused by suppliers’ refusal to import petroleum products due to a $6 billion debt. It also cited the Auditor-General of the Federation’s 2020 report, which alleged that the NNPC failed to remit $2.04 billion and N164 billion in oil revenues to the public treasury.

The group urged President Tinubu to take immediate action to address these issues and ensure justice for Nigerians.