A human rights group, Organization for Human and People’s Rights Protection and Humanitarian (OHPRPH) has raised the alarm that “Nigerians are currently experiencing life threatening hardship”, following the total removal of fuel subsidy by the present administration.
According to the group, “if urgent measures are not put in place, it might lead to something uncontrolable”.
The group therefore called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led Federal government to “address the current economic crisis that has already assumed a new dimension that is life threatening”.
These were contained in a statement issued by the group and signed jointly by its National President, Comrade Ezekiel Kagbala and the Delta State chapter chairman, Comrade Ejiro Unukpo respectively, copies of which were made available to journalists in Warri on Tuesday.
The group lamented the general increment in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petrol, as an aftermath of the fuel subsidy removal, noting that “the resultant effect has grossly reduced the purchasing power of the masses and has already assumed a new dimension that is life threatening”.
Also, the group noted with concern that poverty and unemployment have forced many Nigerians to flee the country adding that “more are still fleeing from Nigeria to escape abject poverty while the political class/elites are sharing the commonwealth of the nation”.
The statement partly reads,
“Following the total removal of fuel subsidy and the resultant effect on the national economy, Nigerians have been pushed to the limit and a lot of families could no longer afford basic food, transportation and healthcare.
“Nigerians are starving as the Tinubu-led government has grossly reduced the purchasing power of her citizens, increasing import duties, tax & revenues to enrich the government treasury to the detriment of the citizens.
“Organization for Peoples and Human Rights Protection and Humanitarian (OHPRPH) is raising the alarm that the current economic hardship in the country is life threatening, and if urgent measures are not put in place, it might lead to something uncontrollable.
“Prices of consumables and other commodities in the market have gone up beyond what the common man could afford, making the current hardship in the country life-threatening.
“Poverty and unemployment have forced many to flee the country and more are still fleeing from Nigeria to escape abject poverty while the political class/elites are sharing the commonwealth of the nation”.