The Nigeria Labour Congress, the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria and some drivers and commuters in Enugu State on Monday commended the Federal Government over the reduction of petrol pump price from N97 to N87 per litre.
They told the News Agency of Nigeria in Enugu that the pump price reduction would make life easier for Nigerians.
The state’s Chairman of the NLC, Chief Chumaife Nze, described the development as a good response to the yearnings of Nigerians.
According to Nze, the pump price reduction is necessary following the dwindling price of crude oil at the international market.
He said: “The government is sensitive to the plight of the people.
“So, it will go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the masses.
“We hope that as other situations change, the government will be responsive and change accordingly.
“What is paramount is the way forward in this country.”
A commercial bus driver, Ndubuisi Igbokwe, regretted that some petrol stations were not responding to the government’s directive as most of them still sold at N110 and N97 respectively.
Igbokwe also appealed to relevant agencies saddled with the responsibility of ensuring compliance to petroleum laws to do so in the interest of the poor masses.
He said: “I was very happy when I heard about the development.
“This is the first time in Nigeria that after something went up, it is coming down.
“We are not sure yet if it will affect transportation fares but I know it will make things better for us.
“My fear now is the petrol stations complying with the directive because they say that the product they have is the one that they bought at N110.”
A commuter, Ifesinachi Okoro, expressed the hope that the development would positively affect every sector of the economy to improve standard of living.
Another commercial bus driver, Ikechukwu Nebo, told NAN that the development was a campaign strategy targeted at making people to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party.
Nebo said: “We have been in Nigeria and we know the politics they play.
“Why did they not reduce the price during December when the masses will benefit in their travelling?”
The Manufacturers’ Association of Nigeria, Ogun State Chapter on Mondaycommended the Federal Government for reducing the price of petrol from N97 per litre to N87 per litre.
The President of the association, Wale Adegbite, gave the commendation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Ota.
NAN reports that the Minister of Petroleum, Diezani Alison-Madueke, had on Sunday in Abuja announced a reduction in the price of petrol from N97 per litre to N87 per litre.
Adegbite said: “The reduction in the price of petrol would make Nigerians to have more money in their pockets to spend on goods and services.
“They will spend less in fueling their cars and generators.
He said this would also reduce the cost of transporting goods and services from one part of the country to the other.
Adegbite said the price reduction would impact more significantly on the manufacturers, if the price of diesel could also be reduced by the government.
“The manufacturers make use of diesel more than petrol in generating power for their daily operation,” he said.
Adegbite said there was the need for the Federal Government to investigate why the price of diesel has not come down after it was deregulated.
He urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in achieving accountability and transparency in the oil sector.
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