SERAP Gives Tinubu 48 Hours to Reverse ‘Unlawful Petrol Price Hike’

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and reverse the recent hike in petrol prices by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), labeling the increase as illegal and unconstitutional. In an open letter dated September 7, 2024, SERAP urged the president to direct the NNPCL to immediately reverse the price increase and take steps to investigate allegations of corruption within the company.

SERAP’s letter, signed by its deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, specifically requested that the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi, and relevant anti-corruption agencies investigate corruption and mismanagement claims against the NNPC. Among the concerns is the alleged misuse of $300 million in bailout funds received by the NNPCL from the Federal Government in August 2024, and a $6 billion debt owed to suppliers despite claims of failing to remit oil revenues to the national treasury.

According to SERAP, the petrol price increase, which has seen rates surge to as high as N900 per litre in some regions, violates constitutional rights and international human rights obligations. SERAP stated that the increase disproportionately impacts the poor and marginalized communities, exacerbating poverty and inequality.

The letter emphasized that Nigerians continue to suffer due to corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, while successive governments have failed to hold the NNPC accountable. SERAP called the price hike unnecessary and a result of “persistent failure” to address systemic corruption in the sector.

“The increase in petrol prices has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival,” SERAP noted. “The economic hardship caused by this hike is pushing more Nigerians into poverty, while the government appears to be punishing the poor instead of addressing the root causes of corruption in the oil industry.”

SERAP also highlighted that the NNPC’s alleged lack of transparency and accountability has resulted in persistent price increases, further burdening vulnerable groups. It warned that the hike undermines the right to life and dignity, as millions of Nigerians struggle to access basic necessities due to the rising cost of living.

In its appeal to President Tinubu, SERAP stressed that his administration has a legal obligation under both Nigerian and international law to investigate and prosecute those responsible for corruption in the NNPC. The letter referenced sections of the Nigerian Constitution that impose duties on the government to promote social justice, ensure the welfare of citizens, and eliminate corrupt practices.

SERAP concluded by giving the president a 48-hour deadline to take corrective measures, warning that failure to act could result in legal action to compel compliance. “If we have not heard from you by then, SERAP shall consider appropriate legal actions in the public interest,” the letter stated.

The organisation urged the government to prioritize policies that address poverty and inequality rather than enforcing measures that disproportionately harm the country’s most disadvantaged citizens.