SERAP urges Tinubu to cancel fuel price hike, probe NNPCL

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to use his “position of leadership and authority to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the apparent illegal and unconstitutional increase in the price of premium fuel oil (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.”

SERAP urged him to “order the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, and the appropriate anti-corruption agencies “to investigate allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the NNPC, including the expenditure of the $300 million ‘bailout’ it reportedly collected from the Federal Government in August 2024, and the $6 billion debt it owes to suppliers, despite allegedly failing to remit oil revenues to the state treasury.”

SERAP stated, “Suspected perpetrators of corruption and mismanagement at NNPC must be prosecuted accordingly, if there is sufficient evidence and the proceeds of corruption must be returned in full.”

In an open letter dated September 7, 2024 and signed by SERAP deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare, the organisation said: “The fuel price hike constitutes a fundamental violation of the country’s constitutional guarantees and international human rights obligations.”

SERAP said, “Nigerians have for too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the root of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.”

The letter read in part: “Instead of implementing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPC accountable for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor.

“The increase in fuel prices has made it impossible for already poor people to meet their minimum needs for survival.

“The increase was not inevitable, as it was caused by the continued failure of successive governments to address allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector and the impunity of alleged perpetrators of corruption.

“Corruption in the oil sector and lack of transparency and accountability in the use of public funds to support NNPC operations have resulted in persistent and unlawful increases in petrol prices.

“Holding the NNPC accountable for alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would serve the legitimate public interest.

“The fuel price hike is causing great hardship for the poor. We fear that as the economic situation in Nigeria worsens, the fuel price hike will push people further into poverty.

“We would appreciate it if the recommended steps are taken within 48 days of receipt and/or issuance of this letter. If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP will consider appropriate legal action to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.

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“Raising fuel prices at a time when millions of Nigerians continue to face worsening economic conditions is totally inconsistent with your government’s constitutional and international obligations to ensure minimum living conditions consistent with human dignity.

“These arbitrary increases have placed a disproportionate burden on the most marginalized and vulnerable sectors of society, particularly those disadvantaged by poverty.

“This increase seriously jeopardizes their living conditions, as well as their physical, emotional and individual development, and aggravates and worsens the socio-economic conditions in the country.”

“This escalation constitutes a serious human rights issue because of its intensity in undermining the enjoyment and exercise of human rights by Nigerian citizens and rendering their civic participation illusory.

“The fundamental right to life includes not only the right of every Nigerian citizen not to be arbitrarily deprived of his life, but also the right that he shall not be denied access to conditions conducive to a life of dignity.

“The increasing poverty and inequality in the country continue to have a detrimental impact on the rights of Nigerian citizens to participate in democracy, and hamper their ability to participate in their own governance.

“The continuous increase in fuel prices keeps people in poverty which in turn perpetuates discriminatory attitudes and practices against them.

“Your government has a legal obligation to mobilize the maximum available resources of the state to ensure the socio-economic rights of the people and protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians.

“Your government also has a legal obligation to investigate and prosecute allegations of corruption and mismanagement at the NNPC, and to ensure access to justice and effective redress for victims of corruption.

“Investigating and prosecuting allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations.

“Based on information we received, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited recently increased the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, across its retail outlets.

“The price of the product has risen to N855 per litre, from about N600, and in some cases above N900 per litre. The apparently illegal increase in petrol prices follows a shortage caused by the reported refusal by suppliers to import petroleum products for NNPCL due to a $6 billion debt.

“NNPC reportedly failed to remit USD$2.04 billion and oil revenue of N164 billion to the state treasury, as documented in the 2020 annual report recently released by the Auditor-General of the Federation.”

SERAP urges Tinubu to reverse petrol price hike, probe NNPCL first appeared on Latest Nigeria News | Headlines from Ripples Nigeria.