Reps Demand Reversal Of Fuel, Cooking Gas Price Hikes Amid Rising Cost Of Living

Abuja, Nigeria- The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to reverse the recent hikes in the prices of premium motor spirit (petrol) and cooking gas.

The resolution followed a motion presented by the minority leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP-Rivers), during plenary sessions in Abuja on Wednesday.

Chinda emphasized the need for urgent interventions, such as price relief, tax reductions, or subsidies, particularly to alleviate the burden on low-income households.

He noted that Nigeria’s dependence on petroleum products and cooking gas as primary energy sources has made the recent price increases unbearable for ordinary Nigerians.

“The continued rise in prices is creating an unsustainable financial burden on citizens, worsening the already high cost of living,” Chinda said.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Chinda disclosed that the removal of fuel subsidies, combined with global oil price fluctuations and the naira’s depreciation, has significantly increased the cost of petrol and cooking gas for households.

“Nigerians are deeply concerned that rising fuel and gas prices are affecting transportation, food, essential goods, and healthcare, contributing to higher inflation. The continued surge in these prices has pushed many families into deeper financial distress. Small and medium-sized businesses are also struggling to cope with higher operational costs, threatening economic stability and job security.

“While the federal government has the refining capacity to mitigate some of these issues, it has yet to produce meaningful results. The escalating cost of petrol and cooking gas poses a serious threat to the livelihoods of millions, and unchecked inflation could lead to social unrest, rising poverty, and long-term economic challenges,” Mr. Chinda warned.

He stressed that unless immediate and practical measures are taken to curb rising fuel and gas prices, the nation could face an economic crisis, leading to increased crime and mortality rates.

In response, the House of Representatives urged the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, and other relevant agencies to expedite repairs and maintenance of the country’s refineries. Lawmakers argued that increasing local refining capacity would reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.

The House also called on the Central Bank of Nigeria to implement monetary policies aimed at mitigating the inflationary impact of fuel price hikes, particularly on essential goods and services.

However, the lawmakers recommended that the federal government explore alternative energy sources to diversify the country’s energy supply and reduce dependence on petrol and gas by promoting more sustainable and affordable renewable energy options.

State governments were urged to adopt policies that could ease the financial burden on citizens, such as waiving taxes or levies on transportation and goods impacted by high fuel costs.

Speaker Tajudeen Abbas directed the Committees on Petroleum Downstream and Legislative Compliance to ensure follow-up on these resolutions and report back within two weeks for further legislative action.