By Ibrahim Idris.
It’s already New Year but a very sad one, with the impending petrol price hike in Nigeria this year.
To Nigerians is not a Happy New Year as it is said all over the globe, it will be insincere to say Happy New Year to a people who are in clear and present danger of being literally burning by an increase in the price of petrol.
The country was shocked when the News was broken about increase last year November in the price of premium motor spirit in February this year to 320 or 340 Naira per litre.
This keep disturbing citizens when ever the word New Year is mentioned, reminding them of the untold hardship the increase will be accompanied by, regarding the fact that the country has suffered on the issue of subsidy removal in all administration right after returning to democratic rule in 1999.
The then administration in 1999 met the premium motor spirit at 20 Naira per litre, but before the end of the two tenure of the then administration, the price rises to 75 Naira per litre.
This increase in the price of the premium motor spirit keep rising year after year or perhaps tenure after tenure thereby increasing prises of all commodities in the country.
Very unfortunate or unlucky enough by Nigerians, is that the present administration that was brought to power by mass votes of the masses with full expectations and believe, but it seems to now turn deaf ears to the citizens, after it matches the their heads and attained to power.
If the Government successfully end in increasing the price of petrol to the said of 320 or 340 Naira per litre, pen alone will not be enough to forecast the hardship await Nigerians in the coming years or probably before the end of the ruling party.
Perhaps, the current price of 165 Naira per litre is the highest hike in pump price in Nigeria since the return of democratic rule in 1999 from 87 Naira to the 165 Naira, so clear that the current hardship being faced in Nigeria is worst Than the previous increase in the pump prices.
Subsidy removal at a time like this from an administration that was brought to power by tears of the poor masses, clearly indicates that the Government has never had it people in mind, never. Not to make mention of answering to the yearnings and aspirations of the masses.
Ibrahim Idris write from mass communication department Abubakar Tatari Ali polytechnic Bauchi State.
