Shehu Sani, the Senator representing Kaduna central on Thursday said the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration’s decision to increase the pump price of petroleum products is “insensitive and punitive”.
Sani, who is the chairman Senate committee on Foreign and Domestic debt, said in a statement that the decision was “most unfortunate”.
“At a time when poor Nigerians are facing enormous economic hardships and are being asked to be more patient all the NNPC can do is to add to their suffering,” he said, referring to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.
“It’s utterly irrational and illogical to further impoverish the people in order to achieve liberal self-serving liberal economic aspirations.
“It’s all evident that capitalist forces are holding the FG hostage and are blackmailing it to implement its inimical version of economic reforms. It makes no sense if everyone must perish in order to revamp the economy.
“Economic reforms are necessary but it must be done with a human face and human heart if it’s made in the interest of human beings.
“Outrageous increase in pump price is a social provocation. It’s possible to reform the oil sector without necessarily incinerating the country. We must not take the patience, the sacrifice and the good will of Nigerians for granted.
“I stand opposed to the increase in pump price and I call on PMB to weigh in on the NNPC to rescind the decision,” Mr. Sani insisted.
