The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has condemned the recent fuel price hike by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its decision to monopolize the supply of Dangote Refinery’s fuel.

In a statement issued by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola, MURIC described NNPC’s action as “anti-people, immoral and lacking in conscience.”

“Nigerians are going through severe hardship… But we were shocked to our marrows when NNPC suddenly announced an upward review of petrol from N617 to N897… NNPC has effectively taken control of Dangote’s fuel and the real owner cannot determine the price of its own product,” Professor Akintola said.

MURIC urged the Federal Government to protect Dangote Refinery from strangulation and allow it to operate freely.

“We charge NNPC to go back to its old price. NNPC must also leave Dangote Refinery alone to operate at its maximum capacity, supply freely to marketers and fix its own prices as expected in a truly free market economy,” Professor Akintola added.

The group questioned NNPC’s contribution to the new refinery and its sudden control over Dangote’s fuel, saying, “What was the contribution of NNPC to the new refinery? How can NNPC suddenly take full control of Dangote Refinery, the hope of the masses to whose process it contributed virtually nothing?”

MURIC also expressed concern over the impact of the fuel price hike on the economy and the masses. “There is hunger in the land. Inflation has made life difficult for many particularly after the removal of fuel subsidy which shot the price of petrol to the rooftop… Nigerians became hungry and justifiably angry. Protests erupted North and South of the country.”

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