The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has warned the Federal Government of a possible mass revolt due to the unending scarcity and outrageous prices of fuel across the country.
The NLC pointed out that the current scarcity and high cost of diesel and aviation fuel besides petrol have exposed the failure of deregulation and importation of products.
In a statement, Congress warned that there is an extent to which the people can endure the current hardship occasioned by the scarcity of refined petroleum products.
The statement which was signed by its President, Ayuba Wabba, partly reads: “There is a limit the people can stomach prevailing disruptions caused by petrol scarcity, especially increased fares and associated dislocations in the land, air, rail and water transportation, and indeed hiccups in the manufacturing sector all linked to the current scarcity of refined petroleum products in the country.”
“It is with great pain, sadness and alarm that the Nigeria Labour Congress observes the continued acute scarcity of petroleum products at different filling stations in the country.
“A crisis that started with the supply of sub-standard Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has now degenerated into a persisting scarcity of not only PMS but also other petroleum products such as Diesel and Aviation Fuel.
“It is deeply disturbing that motorists, Keke operators, bike riders and other users of petrol products now spend incredibly long hours at filling stations before being serviced or sent away empty-handed. This is indeed a daylight premiere of unending episodes of a nightmare.
“Currently, a litre of aviation fuel sells as high as N580 while a litre of diesel goes as high as N625. In many parts of the country, a litre of PMS goes as high as N220.
“The socio-economic strain of both the scarcity and the high cost of petroleum products on ordinary Nigerians and manufacturing firms is best imagined.”
