.. Say Soaring Prices Of Items Out Of Reach Of Many Nigerians
By Emmanuel Udodimma
Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has raised the alarm over the new pump price of N617 per litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, saying the development has already triggered astronomical increases in transportation costs, food items prices among others.
NUJ, in a statement signed by Shuaibu Usman Leman, the National Secretary, lamented that the prices of essential items are soaring almost beyond the reach of many citizens.
The statement reads in parts: “Nigeria Union of Journalists is alarmed at the just announced increase in – the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N617 per litre in Abuja and N568 in Lagos respectively.
“This development has already triggered astronomical increases in transportation costs, with prices of food items soaring almost beyond the reach of many citizens, even as users of generators to power their homes are already groaning uncontrollably under the present situation.
“While we applaud the decision to remove the costly subsidies on fuel, however we had cautioned against a hasty implementation of the policy without putting mitigating measures in place to cushion the excruciating effects.
“We are saddened by the fact that today most people can hardly commute to work or other places of business without too much stress because the embarrassing sudden surge in petrol prices has made it so.
“We believe that this sudden decision is an over kill and urge that the situation should be reversed immediately while adequate measures are considered and put in place to lessen the effects on ordinary Nigerians”.
