The Northern Christian Youth Professionals (NCYP) has lauded the recent transition from the importation of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to local production and supply in Nigeria.
Chairman of the group, Isaac Abrak, in a statement on Friday, said, “Like any significant change, this shift comes with challenges. The steep surge in the pump price of PMS—from N617 per liter to N855, and in some cases, as high as N1,200—has caused undue hardship on the populace.”
He explained that the increase is particularly concerning as it exacerbates the strain on an economy that is being repositioned for genuine development.
The statement described the establishment of the Dangote Refinery as a commendable achievement, credited to the oil reforms initiated by the Federal Government.
The goal of these reforms, according to the statement, is to restore Nigeria’s capacity to refine its PMS locally, thus reducing dependency on imports.
He said that this milestone should not come at the expense of ordinary Nigerians, who have, over the last 17 months, borne the brunt of subsidy removal as a national sacrifice to genuinely reform the economy.
According to him, “NCYP is confident that the current surge in PMS prices is not the outcome envisioned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu when he made the courageous decision to remove the oil subsidy.”
He called on the President to take decisive action to address the current situation, urging him to implement necessary changes within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and his administration to ensure that his campaign promise of making life easier for all Nigerians is fulfilled.
The youths strongly encouraged the President to appoint a substantive Minister of Petroleum, noting that as Commander-in-Chief, he is already shouldering numerous responsibilities, including addressing pressing national issues such as insecurity and food shortages.
The chairman said the appointment of a dedicated Minister of Petroleum would enable the President to focus on other urgent matters while the Minister could concentrate on effectively managing the petroleum sector and reporting directly to him.
To alleviate the concerns of Nigerians who fear that the partnership between NNPCL and Dangote Refinery may compromise the refinery’s efficiency, the youths called for greater transparency from NNPCL.
They emphasized that clear and open communication with the public will help restore trust and build support, as NNPCL is ultimately accountable to the people it serves.
The youths urged Nigerians to remain calm and patient, as they expect a reduction in PMS prices in the coming days, stressing that trucks are currently loading PMS from the Dangote Refinery and distributing it across the country.
The statement assured, “This distribution process, though challenging, will soon stabilize, leading to more affordable fuel prices for all.”
Group calls for immediate action on PMS price surge, transparent petroleum sector reforms