Reps Majority Caucus Condemns NNPCL-Dangote Fuel Prices as "Outrageous and Exploitative"

The House of Representatives Minority Caucus in Nigeria has condemned the fuel pricing set by the Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The caucus described the current pump price, which ranges from N950 to N980 per litre and even exceeds N1000 in some regions, as "outrageous and exploitative."

Chairman of the caucus, Kingsley Chinda, voiced his concerns in a statement on Tuesday in Abuja. He emphasized that the high prices are an added burden on Nigerians who are already grappling with severe economic challenges. "We find this pricing regime to be not only burdensome but utterly unacceptable, particularly in light of the fact that this fuel is refined locally," Chinda stated.

The lawmaker argued that locally refined fuel should be significantly cheaper than imported fuel because it avoids additional costs such as landing charges and import duties. "It appears Nigerians are unfairly exploited, especially at a time when many are facing severe economic challenges," he added, urging NNPCL and Dangote Refinery to reconsider their pricing strategy in the interest of the poor masses.

The Minority Caucus warned that maintaining the current pricing arrangement would only deepen the economic hardships faced by millions of Nigerians and erode trust in local refineries' ability to deliver affordable fuel.

They called on regulatory bodies and the government to urgently review the pricing framework to ensure that Nigerians are not subjected to unsustainable fuel prices.

The caucus affirmed its commitment to protecting the welfare of the Nigerian people and pledged to engage relevant stakeholders to ensure fair and just fuel pricing.