President Bola Tinubu has met with major oil marketers at Aso Rock in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
The President’s meeting with the oil marketers comes amid the controversy and protests trailing the removal of subsidy on petrol.
The President during his inaugural speech on May 29 at the Eagle Square in Abuja had announced the removal of subsidy payment on petrol. The President said that the immediate past administration of Muhammadu Buhari did not make provisions for subsidy in the 2023 budget beyond June.
Meanwhile many Nigerians had expected that the new price regime would come into effect by July 1 but almost immediately after the presidential pronouncement, queues resurfaced at filling stations across the country even as retail outlets hoard the product and increase prices.
Already, a litre of petrol is being sold at over N500 across the country following NNPCL price adjustment and the presidential pronouncement on subsidy removal.
Fuel queues have since surged for the vital commodity, compounding the traffic situation in parts of the country, even as transportation cost skyrocket to more than 100% increment.
The Organised Labour had resolved to embark on a nationwide strike beginning Wednesday but was restrained by a court order on Monday, June 5, 2023, but subsequently shelved its planned strike after a meeting with the Federal Government on Monday, till June 19.