What Nigerians think of fuel pump price reduction

Inalegwu Oyikene Kingsley, 21, fuel attendant: “The change in fuel price is good, I don’t see any campaign strategy attached to it. I would have said otherwise, but if we remember correctly the price of crude oil has dropped and that I believe is the reason why the price of fuel also reduced. I advise […]

Inalegwu Oyikene Kingsley, 21, fuel attendant: “The change in fuel price is good, I don’t see any campaign strategy attached to it. I would have said otherwise, but if we remember correctly the price of crude oil has dropped and that I believe is the reason why the price of fuel also reduced. I advise that the government should do more by reducing the price to sixty or fifty naira.”

Peter Wadawasina, 52 years: “I see political attachment in the decrease of fuel price because the drop in the price of crude oil n the International market is so much in comparison to Nigeria’s drop in price of fuel, with that reason alone, I think the change in price is more politically motivated. More so, the price reduction is so small and the timing is so close to election, why was the change made now and not done when people yearned for it. But aside my view of it being political inclined, the reduction is good but the government should do more because during the time of their so called subsidy, their stance was that the price of crude oil was what instigated the increase, now the price of crude oil has reduced therefore they should reduce the fuel price than they have done.”

Mohammed Hassan, 36, businessman:  “To me I don’t see what change has been made because when I saw the news on television, I thought the price would have changed but I was surprised when I went to get fuel, the price was still same. I personally think the fuel price reduction is political to lure the masses. I know that the reduction of the fuel price won’t work in changing the minds of voters because many Nigerians are enlightened and would vote who they have in mind.”

Yusuf Muhammed, 30, cab driver: “I personally think the increase in fuel price is politically motivated because Nigerians have been yearning for this decrease, why did the government choose now when it is just weeks to election? Well, I personally think this change won’t influence my choice when I am voting.”

Imoh Ugwoeje, businesswoman: “I am personally not concerned about the motive of the fuel price reduction because no matter how small the amount of reduction is, it has been beneficial to me. Before when I get fuel of two thousand naira, it really made no difference in my fuel tank but when I bought fuel today, I noticed a little increase of about three liters. With that, I am sure if I am to fill my tank, which I did for six thousand naira, the price would have reduced to five thousand, five hundred naira or less.”

Henry Agbonika, development specialist: I would have wished the reduction had been by some significant percentage level considering the level to which crude oil has fallen. All the same, N10 is some appreciable reduction in a country where prices only go up and never down. It is left to see how this will impact directly upon Nigerians.

Peace Emezue, fitness expert: It came right time for Jonathan, but generally bad timing. Nigerians don’t seem impressed by it. Although fuel prices dropped globally, and Nigeria’s should have followed suit then, I’m all the same happy that price is reduced. But it shows our oil is no longer such a big deal anymore. One day we will drink our oil.

Mercy Abang, blogger: It came at  good time especially as nations world over had reduced the price in line with the dwindling oil price. But most importantly we need sustainable measures not just for the interim but also for the long term. Our oil regime isn’t sustainable; the crash of the oil in itself is a threat to our economy so we have to look for sustainable measures not just a 10 naira reduction of oil price by the petroleum minister.

Omore Orifa, theater artiste: Believe me, it’s ill-timed. Wrong timing! I say so because during the festive period it wasn’t reduced for the masses to benefit from.
Also, is the reduction for real? If it is real then the price ought to have been slashed by half to like 47 naira because the thing full market and dem no dey sell like before [sic].  Again, I hope the government doesn’t want to buy us with the reduction and after election the price will increase by triple the amount. You know anything goes in this country of mine.

Victor Ikoli, Journalist: First let me commend the federal government on reduction of the pump price of petrol by N10. The development would cushion the effect of biting global economic crunch caused by the fall in crude oil. The GEJ government is sensitive to the plight of Nigerians. Interestingly the reduction was not pushed through a protest or labour strikes rather a voluntary move by govt. I hope the reduction will alleviate the sufferings of Nigerians and steer economic growth and development.