Nigerian Group Urges President to Reverse Electricity Tariff Hike and Restore Fuel Subsidy

A coalition of groups leading the "End Bad Governance" movement, including the Equity International Initiative and Citizens Coalition Against Corruption, has called on Nigerian President Bola Tinubu to reverse the recent electricity tariff hike and restore fuel subsidy. The group made the demand during a briefing in Jos on Thursday, as part of a ten-day nationwide protest.

According to Chris Iyama, the group’s spokesperson, the electricity tariff hike and fuel subsidy removal are unbearable for poor Nigerians and should be reversed to alleviate their suffering. He added that the present electricity tariff is not only callous but also evil and anti-people.

Iyama urged the government to take deliberate steps to ensure food security, as farmers are unable to go to their farms due to incessant attacks. He alleged that the attacks are being sponsored by multinational companies and big donors to push Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) into the market.

The group also called on the government to declare a state of emergency on food security and submit an executive bill to ban GMOs for health and safety concerns. Additionally, they urged the President to give an executive order to customs officers at the borders to reduce import tariffs on imported goods, which would further reduce prices by over 40%.

On insecurity, the group urged the President to exercise his political will and fight insecurity decisively. They called on the government to reform the Nigerian security architecture to combat insecurity, allowing farmers to return to their farms and citizens to enjoy relative peace.

Gad Shamaaki, a civil society activist, praised the youths for speaking out against the sufferings of Nigerians in a peaceful manner. He emphasized the importance of the government ensuring that the economy works for the benefit of all Nigerians and called for practical solutions to the country’s challenges.