The national leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has explained the increase in price of petrol and electricity.
National Publicity Secretary of the party, Yekini Nabena in a statement claimed the hike in electricity tariff and PMS was meant to boost efficiency in the generation, distribution of electricity and the downstream sector of the oil industry.
Already, The People’s Democratic Party in a statement signed by its publicity scribe, Kola Ologbodiyan has condemned the increase.
It described the increase as being callous by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration and demanded reversal.
Justifying the increase, the APC said,“reviewed petroleum products pricing template has resulted in a more transparent, efficient and realistic pricing system for petroleum products and also resulted in a constant availability of fuel nationwide.”
It advised Nigerians to live with the upward review in the price of petrol and electricity tariff, submitting that “the pricing template now reflects competitive and market-driven components which is supported by the citizenry.”
The statement read in part: “The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has been drawn to a shameless statement by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on the current petrol price and electricity tariff in the country.
“For successive PDP governments that foisted on the country a corruption-tainted fuel subsidy regime, we call on the PDP to surprise itself and indeed Nigerians by cajoling its cronies who ran the subsidy rackets ― many of them in hiding abroad ― to return our stolen commonwealth in their possession.
“Under the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, the tortuous fuel queues as a result of biting scarcities are gone. The reviewed petroleum products pricing template has resulted in a more transparent, efficient and realistic pricing system for petroleum products and also resulted in a constant availability of fuel nationwide.
“The pricing template now reflects competitive and market-driven components which is supported by the citizenry.
“In an effort by this administration to put an end to estimated and arbitrary billing for electricity, President Buhari recently directed a nationwide mass metering programme for electricity consumers in the country.
“For the PDP that is only concerned with pushing the interests of its few cronies over the general interest and welfare of the citizenry, we don’t expect the PDP to grasp the import of this landmark presidential directive which aside improving electricity and service delivery, is also protecting the poor and vulnerable Nigerians from increased electricity tariff and arbitrary/estimated billings.
“Commendably, the Federal government is already working to ensure that Electricity Distribution Companies (DISCOs) commit to increasing the number of hours of electricity supply every day and also improve on their quality of service.
“Perhaps the PDP is also unaware, that the current administration has approved a one-year waiver of import levy on electricity meters so that Nigerians who do not have meters can be supplied as early as possible at a reasonable cost.
“The APC calls on the PDP to wake up to the new Nigeria where the government works for the citizens, not a few interests.”
