Muslim Group Urges Nigerian Govt to Force Fuel Price Below N700 Per Litre

The Muslim Media Watch Group of Nigeria (MMWG) has called on the Federal Government to direct petroleum marketers to reduce the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to below N700 per litre, insisting that the current pricing is no longer justified following the decline in global crude oil prices.

In a statement issued on Friday and signed by its National Coordinator, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi, the group argued that the recent ceasefire between Iran and the United States has significantly reduced tensions in the Middle East, leading to a drop in international oil prices.

According to the group, the conflict had previously driven up global petroleum prices, but with hostilities easing, there is no economic basis for petrol to continue selling above N1,000 per litre in Nigeria.

“The America/Israel against Iran war that forced the prices of petroleum products up has subsided following the ceasefire agreement between Iran and America. Therefore, there is no basis for petroleum marketers in Nigeria to keep the price of Premium Motor Spirit above N1,000 per litre,” the statement said.

MMWG described the continued high fuel prices as insensitive and inhumane, accusing marketers of exploiting Nigerians despite improvements in global market conditions.

The organisation noted that religious groups across the country had consistently prayed for peace in the Gulf region, expressing disappointment that ordinary Nigerians had yet to benefit from the easing of international tensions.

“How could the prayers be answered and some shylocks still continue to prolong the hardship of our people?” the group queried.

It further claimed that countries affected by the conflict had already begun adjusting fuel prices downward, questioning why similar reductions had not been reflected in Nigeria.

The group urged the Federal Government to immediately compel petroleum marketers to revert to what it described as the pre-war petrol price of N700 per litre to ease the burden on citizens.

It also called on the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC), under the Federal Ministry of Trade, Industry and Investment, to intervene and ensure fair pricing within the downstream petroleum sector.

While commending the Dangote Group for its investment in local refining and efforts to improve fuel availability, MMWG encouraged the company to champion lower fuel prices in order to reduce the economic hardship currently facing millions of Nigerians.