The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse its recent petrol price increases, citing a pending lawsuit challenging the legality of such hikes.
In a statement issued on Sunday, SERAP Deputy Director Kolawole Oluwadare emphasized the urgency of the situation. “The latest increase in petrol prices makes a mockery of the case pending before the Federal High Court,” he stated, warning that continued price hikes could prejudice the judicial process.
SERAP’s lawsuit, filed last month, addresses the NNPCL’s authority to raise fuel prices and investigates allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the company. According to Oluwadare, the NNPCL recently raised the price of petrol from N897 to N1,030 per litre, marking the second increase in just one month. This follows a previous hike from N600 to N855 per litre.
The organization argues that this escalation in fuel costs undermines public trust in the legal system and jeopardizes the outcome of the ongoing court case. “Increasing petrol prices while the Federal High Court case is pending would prejudice the ability of the court to do justice,” Oluwadare warned.
SERAP further highlighted the disparity in government spending priorities, noting that while operational funds for universities are a mere N15 million monthly, individual senators receive far greater amounts. This misalignment underscores the challenges faced by public institutions amid rising operational costs.
READ ALSO: SERAP Office: Tinubu Is Going Too Far – Sowore, Amnesty International
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The recent price increases come after a reported scarcity of fuel, attributed to suppliers’ refusal to import products due to a substantial debt owed by the NNPCL. In light of these developments, SERAP reiterated the importance of judicial independence and the need for the government to adhere to constitutional mandates.
“Protecting the right to a judicial recourse is crucial,” the statement concluded, urging immediate action to reverse the price hikes to allow the court to resolve the underlying issues fairly.
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