Salihu Lukman, a former National Vice Chairman for the North-West region of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has characterized the pricing of petroleum since the initiation of operations at the Dangote Refinery and the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) as being manipulative in nature.
In a statement released on Tuesday, titled “Nigerian Democracy in ICU,” Lukman asserted that the pricing mechanisms are primarily focused on exerting manipulative control and establishing a parasitic monopoly, which he attributes to the NNPC.
He expressed concern over the troubling reality that citizens are being compelled to accept the harsh consequences of increased petroleum product prices, which ultimately undermines local production.
Lukman emphasized that the economic dynamics of petroleum pricing since the Dangote Refinery began operations reflect a pattern of manipulative control and the establishment of a parasitic monopoly represented by the NNPC.
He said: “Unfortunately, for whatever reasons, that appears to be the preference of the government. As it is, the issue of the welfare of citizens is not the priority of President Asiwaju Tinubu.
“It is almost as if President Tinubu doesn’t give a damn about whether Nigerians are dying on account of the government’s heartless and mindless policies.
“Rather than push public policy in a direction that relieved the economic burden of harsh living conditions, the federal government is more bent on imposing more stringent measures that drain and devalues the resources of citizens.”
