- SERAP urged President Tinubu to reverse the recent petrol price hike, citing ongoing legal challenges regarding NNPCL’s authority to raise prices
- The organization expressed concerns that the price increase undermines justice and could harm vulnerable citizens, demanding accountability from NNPCL
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reverse the recent increase in petrol prices.
SERAP urged that this be done pending the outcome of a lawsuit before the Federal High Court in Abuja, which challenges the legality of NNPCL’s power to raise petrol prices.
Last month, SERAP filed a lawsuit against the president and NNPCL, seeking to reverse an “unlawful” hike in fuel prices. The group also demanded an investigation into allegations of corruption and mismanagement within the NNPCL.
In an open letter dated October 12, 2024, signed by SERAP’s deputy director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization expressed concern that the latest price increase undermines the ongoing court case. SERAP stated that the hike risks prejudicing the case and obstructing justice.
“The rule of law applies to everyone, including presidents and CEOs of public institutions,” the letter read. It emphasized the importance of upholding the court’s authority and integrity and warned that failing to reverse the price hike could have serious consequences for Nigeria’s most vulnerable citizens.
SERAP argued that maintaining the current price increase would undermine the Nigerian constitution and negatively affect the public interest.