The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has condemned the recent increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, NBA President Afam Osigwe criticized the price hike, which has seen petrol prices rise to between N855 and N897 per litre from N617. The NBA described the hike as an “unbearable burden” on Nigerians, exacerbating existing economic difficulties.
Osigwe called for an immediate halt to the policy and urged the Federal Government to engage in dialogue with stakeholders including civil society organizations, labor unions, and economic experts. The NBA emphasized the need for more sustainable and less punitive alternatives that prioritize the welfare of Nigerian citizens, especially the most vulnerable.
The statement follows NNPCL’s recent adjustment of petrol prices by at least 45%, amid the commencement of petrol production at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos.
