In response to the sharp increase in fuel and cooking gas prices across Nigeria, the House of Representatives has urged the federal government to introduce “targeted subsidies” to help alleviate the burden on citizens.
During a heated plenary session on Wednesday, the House passed a motion calling on the government to reverse the recent hike in petrol prices. This comes after Nigerians saw the price of petrol soar to between N998 and N1,030 per litre, following the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) ending its sole offtaker arrangement with the Dangote Refinery.
The motion, titled “Urgent Need to Address the Rising Costs of Petrol and Cooking Gas,” was sponsored by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), and co-sponsored by 111 other members of the House. Speaking on behalf of Chinda, Deputy Minority Leader Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano) highlighted the growing hardship Nigerians face due to the escalating cost of fuel and gas.
Madaki expressed concerns about the long-term effects of rising fuel prices, noting that inflation caused by the fuel hikes could lead to severe consequences for millions of Nigerians.
“The rising cost of petrol and cooking gas poses a significant threat to the livelihood of millions of Nigerians,” he said. “Unchecked inflationary pressure caused by these increased prices could lead to social unrest, increased poverty, and other negative long-term effects.”
His sentiments were echoed by Isa Ali (PDP, Gombe), who also supported the motion. Ali argued that the recent fuel price hike has affected every sector of the economy, pushing millions of Nigerians into greater hardship.
“The people are suffering due to the fuel price increase,” Ali said. “The government should allow the people to breathe and should not remove the little oxygen cylinder giving Nigerians relief. The government should listen to the cries of the people and review any policy that negatively affects Nigerians.”
Despite the widespread support for the motion from the opposition, some lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) expressed reservations. Sada Soli (APC, Katsina) raised a point of order during the session, reminding the House that a joint committee of the National Assembly is already reviewing the downstream sector, including the subsidy regime.
However, the opposition was quick to counter Soli’s point. Chinda, who was at the forefront of the motion, argued that the review process must consider the human cost of policies, emphasizing that laws must serve the people and not the other way around.
“We yearn for deregulation, but how do we implement it without negatively affecting the people?” Chinda asked. “Laws are made for man, not man for laws. We must consider Nigerians in the process of implementing such laws.”
Chinda’s argument underscored the urgent need to address the impact of rising fuel prices on Nigerians, especially the most vulnerable.
The main thrust of the motion was the proposal for “targeted subsidies.” The lawmakers urged the federal government to introduce temporary price relief measures, including tax reductions or subsidies for low-income households, to cushion the impact of the fuel price hike. They also called for the stabilization of petrol and cooking gas prices to prevent further inflationary pressures on essential goods and services.
According to Madaki, the proposed subsidies would be “targeted” at those who are most affected by the rising prices, such as low-income earners who depend on affordable fuel for their daily activities. This would ensure that the most vulnerable Nigerians are protected from the worst effects of the fuel price hikes.
The motion also called for the immediate repair and maintenance of Nigeria’s domestic refineries, which have long been a source of frustration for many Nigerians. For years, the country has relied on imported refined petroleum products, despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers. Lawmakers believe that increasing local refining capacity would reduce the need for costly imports and help stabilize fuel prices in the long term.
In addition to urging improvements in local refining, the House called on the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to implement monetary policies that would mitigate the effects of the fuel price hike on inflation. The lawmakers stressed that the CBN must take immediate steps to address the rising costs of essential goods and services.
Beyond the issue of fuel prices, the motion also highlighted the need for Nigeria to explore alternative energy sources and diversify its energy mix. Lawmakers called on the federal government to promote sustainable and affordable renewable energy solutions as a long-term strategy to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on petroleum products.
The call for alternative energy sources aligns with global trends towards greener energy, and it reflects Nigeria’s growing need to embrace cleaner and more sustainable options. As the world moves away from fossil fuels, countries like Nigeria must also begin to adapt, reducing their reliance on oil and gas while exploring new ways to meet the energy needs of their population.
While the motion focused heavily on the role of the federal government, it also called on state governments to adopt policies aimed at easing the financial burden on citizens. State-level measures, such as waiving taxes or levies on transportation and goods affected by high fuel costs, were suggested as immediate steps that could help alleviate the suffering of ordinary Nigerians.
Lawmakers argued that state governments must play an active role in addressing the economic challenges faced by their constituents, especially given the widespread impact of the fuel price hikes. Many Nigerians are struggling to make ends meet, and state-level interventions could provide some much-needed relief.
As expected, the motion generated heated debate on the House floor. APC lawmakers, including Olumide Osoba (Ogun) and Patrick Umoh (Akwa-Ibom), argued that the motion should be referred to the Joint Committee on Petroleum Downstream, allowing for a more thorough review of the issues raised.
However, the opposition strongly resisted these calls, insisting that urgent action was needed to address the immediate crisis. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen intervened, appealing for calm and suggesting that the motion be referred to the Joint Committee while ensuring that the urgent issues would still be addressed.
Reluctantly, Chinda agreed to amend the motion, allowing it to be referred to the Joint Committee. The amended motion was then passed with broad support from both sides of the aisle.
