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Hike in petrol price: We’re not living, but merely surviving, Nigerians cry out
Nigerians have continued reeling under the effect of the recent hike in the cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which has spread poverty and hardship to its nooks and crannies, with residents of Lagos State calling on the Federal Government to urgently implement adequate palliative measures to alleviate the present high cost of living they are experiencing.
Reports in New Express, quoting the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), records the lamentations of citizens arising from the situation which has worsened since President Bola Tinubu, announced in his inauguration speech on May 29, the complete removal of subsidy on the product which saw the cost jumping from N195 per litre to N537 in a matter of hours.
Regardless of the sudden ripple effects including hike in transport fares and the prices of essential goods and services, which skyrocketed throughout the country, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company, Ltd. (NNPL), last penultimate Wednesday, announced a further increase of prices from N500 per litre to N617 per litre at its own petrol stations.
Bemoaning the situation, residents said the situation had led to rising cost of transport, essential commodities, and steep increase in utility bills, noting that it had left many struggling to make ends meet and the only way to survive was quick intervention by government.
Makinde Akinlemibola, Chairman, Association of Nigerian Private Medical Practitioners (ANPMP), who lamented the situation said that medical professionals are feeling the weight of the high cost of living, having no choice but to increase their consultation fee, adding that the hike had affected the cost of running the hospitals, from fueling the generators to huge electricity bills.
Stating that the situation had made it difficult for private facilities to increase the salaries of their workers, he however, urged employers to consider an increment to help them cope with the hike in transport fares and other commodities.
“The only way forward is to increase our consultation fees to meet up with the cost of running the hospital. It is from the consultation fee that we get the salary for staff and run the facilities. We cannot afford to alternate days like some government offices because we are essential workers and we don’t know when emergencies will occur,” he said.
Solomon Odewale, a young man who embarked on an entrepreneurial journey two years ago, said he now had to take up an additional job, adding: “I started as an entrepreneur two years ago but right now, I can’t meet up with the cost of running my business and my personal needs.
“I had to take up an administrative job for someone else, alongside running my own business and it’s challenging. Balancing both responsibilities is tearing me apart, making it difficult for me to focus on my own business,” he said.
Stressing how he made cutbacks in various aspects, he said: “For instance, I now limit the usage of my generator to pump water as I can’t afford to run it for extended periods.
“This situation is negatively impacting entrepreneurs in general. The cost of production for what used to be N1,000 has skyrocketed to over N5,000, leading to a much lower profit margin.”
Stanley Samuel, a civil engineer, who said he had to devise strategies to reduce various expenses, explained how he decided to cut back on driving his car to work every day and opted for public transport instead, stating: “As a responsible family man, I prioritise planning and focus on fulfilling the essential needs of my family while disregarding unnecessary wants.”
Nwanne Happiness, who recently secured a job with a salary, said she began producing and supplying chin-chin and egg rolls to supermarkets, adding: “Going to work used to cost me N200 Naira to and fro but now it is N600.
“Recently, I tried renting a room self-contained, I was shocked when they said it was N400,000. This used to cost about N80,000 to N100,000. So, this high cost of living is affecting me in all areas.”
Tochukkwu Samuel, on his part, said he now had to buy things in bulk from the market which had helped him save more, adding: “I have also cut unnecessary outings and going to beer parlour. I only buy what I need now; there is no room for waste anymore.”
According to the latest Consumer Price Index report released by the National Bureau of Statistics, Nigeria’s inflation rate increased to 22.79 per cent, surpassing the previous figure of 22.41 percent recorded in May.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has appealed the judgement of the federal high court in Abuja nullifying the timelines issued for the conduct of party primaries and the nomination of candidates.
Alex Izinyon SAN, leading a team of lawyers of the commission in a notice of appeal dated May 25, raised nine grounds it urged the appellate court to consider and vacate the judgment the Federal High Court in Abuja delivered on May 20.
Apart from raising the issue of jurisdiction, which it said the lower court did not determine, INEC also maintained that the legal action the Youth Party (YP) initiated against it was not only hypothetical but academic.
Arguing that failure of the trial court to make pronouncements on the issues, resulted in the denial of fair hearing to the Appellant, the commission also stressed the lower court misinterpreted the provisions of the electoral act.
It said: “The high court erred in law when it held that: ‘It is clear from the wordings of Sections 29(1), 82 and 84 of the Electoral Act, 2026, the following can be understood. Section 29(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026 mandates Political Parties to submit the names of candidates in prescribed forms of the candidates who emerged from its valid primaries which such a political party intends to sponsor at the elections, not later than 120 days before the date of the General Election.
“What is required of Political Parties to do under the Electoral Act, 2026 is to notify the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) 21 days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, days before the holding of its primaries, congresses or conventions, or any conference or meeting convened for the election of its executive committees, other governing bodies for nominating candidates.
“The Defendant is not mandated to impose a timeframe for political parties to conduct their primaries provided that it will be done and submitted not later than the 120 days provided by the Electoral Act, 2026. See Section 82(1) of the Electoral Act, 2026.”
It was another day of misery in Kwara State, when daredevil terrorists reportedly stormed Yashikira Community in Baruten Local Government Area of Kwara State, and as has been the case in many of the attacks, abducting scores of residents including women and children.
But, apparently to register their authority, the gunmen, who were said to have operated for hours without challenge from the security operatives, were said to have torched the palace of the Emir.
The attackers, which reportedly occurred late Sunday night were said to have announced their presence through heavy firing and after storming the palace of the monarch during the period, set it on fire before whisking away their victims, but a similar attempt at the police station in the community, was repelled.
While some of the residents, narrated how the spent hours without resistance, leaving behind destruction and fear in the border community, another account said the villagers were caught unawares as the gunmen invaded the town under the cover of darkness.
However operatives made up of the police and military personnel, were said to have launched a manhunt immediately for the immediate rescue of the victims, including throwing a cordon in the area as part of the mission.
“The suspect offered ₦500 million to the SPU commander in an attempt to make the team stand down and allow him to contact his associates to move the consignment elsewhere. The offer was rejected immediately and properly documented for further investigation.”
These were the exact words of Olohundare Jimoh Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), with which he detailed how operatives of the Zone 2 Command of the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) scoffed at a N500million bribe to turn their eyes off the importation of a huge consignment of drugs imported into the country.
This was part of the details of a major breakthrough by the operatives after bursting a major drug trafficking syndicate in Lagos, which led to the seizure of suspected illicit drugs estimated at ₦7.8 billion and arresting several suspects, including the alleged kingpin.
In the operation, reportedly carried out by officers of the Special Protection Unit (SPU) in collaboration with divisional police detectives, the operatives, were said to have stormed a house in Mende, Maryland area of Lagos, following months of surveillance and intelligence gathering coordinated by the Zone 2 Headquarters.
The recovered drugs consisted of hundreds of bags of suspected Canadian Loud, allegedly stored in the residence of the prime suspect, Jimoh, said disclosing that the suspect was apprehended on May 19 after weeks of strategic monitoring by operatives.
Offering further details, he said the operation was executed with technical support and guidance from the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, alongside coordinated efforts between the SPU and divisional police teams.
Jimoh revealed that during the operation, the suspect allegedly attempted to bribe the SPU commander with ₦500 million to compromise the mission and allow the movement of the drug consignment.
The AIG described the development as a reflection of the renewed professionalism and operational discipline being entrenched in the Force under the current policing strategy.
He noted that the success of the operation underscored the importance of deploying specialized police units alongside conventional divisional teams in tackling organized crime.
According to him, the operation demonstrated the effectiveness of rapid containment strategies, intelligence-led policing, and professional conduct among the operatives involved in the raid.
“Rapid containment was achieved as the Special Protection Unit worked with divisional teams to secure the perimeter and prevent escape or interference with evidence.
“The operation was intelligence-driven, following months of surveillance and technical monitoring before the raid was carried out.
“The immediate rejection and documentation of the bribe attempt also reflect the standard expected from redeployed personnel at the divisional level,” Jimoh added.
Reacting to the development, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Disu, commended the operatives for their professionalism, saying the success of the operation validated the ongoing redeployment of personnel to divisions and units across Lagos and Ogun states.
The IGP noted: “Policing must be close to the people, and our specialized units must work side by side with divisional teams on the ground.
“The professionalism shown by the SPU commander in rejecting a ₦500 million bribe and following due procedure is the standard we expect. It shows that when you put your best foot forward at the grassroots, you get results and restore public trust.”
Disu further assured that the Force leadership would continue to reward integrity while holding officers accountable to the highest ethical standards.
Police authorities said exhibits recovered during the operation have been properly documented and will be tendered in court. The suspects are currently in custody while investigations continue to track down other members of the drug trafficking network.
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