Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, says the
rising prices of petroleum products including petrol, diesel, aviation fuel and
cooking gas in Nigeria are not limited to the country but a global problem also
experienced in the United Kingdom and the United States.
He stated this at a press conference in Abuja while reacting
to sundry issues confronting the nation in recent times.
Mohammed said, “The last issue I want to address is the
figures being bandied around by the folks on the other side and a section of
the press, comparing the prices of some foodstuffs, petrol, diesel, etc
pre-2015 and now. This misuse of statistics is clear mischief. Those who bandy around
these figures without putting them in context are being clever by half.
“Let’s take the price of foodstuffs and petrol. Google the
price of foodstuffs in other countries, especially the UK and the US, and you
will discover a steep rise. Ditto for the price of gas or petrol. What we are
saying is that this increase is a global trend, and it’s not limited to any
country.
“Therefore, presenting it as a Nigerian problem is
mischievous, disingenuous and a clear act of misinformation. Let me add that
the crippling fuel shortage experienced across the country in recent times has
started easing, as the measures put in place by the government begin to work.”
For months, Nigerians have had to contend with energy crisis
with sharp increase in the cost of cooking gas, petrol amid power outages and
grid collapse.
While petrol became scarce with a corresponding price increase,
the price of diesel rose astronomically from about N250 to about N750. Also,
12.5kg of cooking gas, in the last one year, rose from about N3,000 to N8,000.
Several businesses and homes have been badly affected by the crisis in the
energy sector.
Is Black out also being experienced in the Uk and USA or is it the pressure at the port or the insecurity issues to mention a few, Please lets compare things on a like for like basis.
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