Hundreds of protesters under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have taken to the streets of Benin City, Edo State, to protest against the removal of fuel subsidy and the recent hike in petrol pump price.
The protesters, who gathered at the secretariat of the NLC at about 7 am on Tuesday, marched through major roads in the city, causing heavy traffic gridlock. The demonstrators wielded placards with inscriptions such as “No to fuel price hike,” “Return the pump price to N145,” and “Don’t punish Nigerians with high fuel prices.”
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, the Chairman of IPMAN in Edo State, said the protest was a peaceful way for the people to express their grievances about the government’s decision to remove subsidy on petrol and increase pump price.
Osatuyi said the increase in price would affect both the transport sector and the masses as the cost of goods and services would go up. He further stated that the government did not consult widely before making the decision, adding that Nigerians were already undergoing hardship.
However, the State Secretary of the NLC, Mr. Anthony Osilaghe, said that the removal of subsidy and the increase in price would hurt Nigerians and businesses, adding that the protest was a way to get the government’s attention to reverse the policy.
Osilaghe, who urged the Federal Government to listen to the cries of the masses, said that removing subsidy was not the solution to the country’s economic problems but a mere way of further impoverishing Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Edo State Government has appealed to protesters to be peaceful and align with Facebook’s policies on self-harm and suicidal tendencies and respect the rules of engagement in expressing their grievances, urging the Federal Government to dialogue with the people over the issue.
