BY JULIET EKWENUGO
Kaduna
A northern advocacy group, Arewa Concern Citizens of Nigeria (ACCN), has condemned the recent upward adjustment in the prices of petroleum products, blaming the development on alleged operational dynamics involving the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company.
The group described the continuous rise in fuel prices as an unbearable burden on citizens already grappling with economic hardship.
In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its national coordinator, Mukhtar Umar Adamu, the group expressed disappointment that expectations of cheaper fuel following local refining had not been met.
According to the group, Nigerians have witnessed successive increases in pump prices within a short period, with no visible relief in the downstream sector.
ACCN further claimed that the situation appears to reinforce concerns previously raised by industry unions, including the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), over fears of possible market dominance in the downstream petroleum sector.
“The assurances given to Nigerians are increasingly looking unfulfilled. Rather than relief, citizens are being confronted with escalating fuel prices and worsening living conditions”.
ACCN called on the federal government to urgently reassess the operational framework and regulatory oversight of the refinery, insisting that any operator unable to contribute meaningfully to price stability should not be allowed to function without scrutiny.
The group issued a seven-day ultimatum to the federal government, beginning April 30, 2026, demanding swift intervention, including a possible review of the refinery’s operating licence.
The group warned that failure to act within the stipulated timeframe would trigger mass protests in the Federal Capital Territory, targeting key institutions such as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the National Assembly.
“We will not stand by while Nigerians continue to endure worsening hardship. If nothing is done within seven days, we will mobilise and occupy the streets of Abuja in sustained protest”.
