Petrol price to go up-President Goodluck Jonathan
President Goodluck Jonathan says he will definitely raise gas prices again, but will “discuss” with the public the easiest way to do it.
On New Year’s Day 2012, Jonathan greeted Nigerians with the shock of new oil prices as he attempted to scrap so-called oil subsidies, leading to widespread strikes and protests that almost toppled his government.
He solved the problem at that time by partially revoking the effort. He raised the price to 97 Naira a liter, up from 65 Naira.
According to agency reports, Jonathan said at a press conference in Lagos today, “We cannot continue to waste resources meant for a greater number of Nigerians to subsidize the affluent middle class, who are the main beneficiaries.”
He did not make any reference to the mammoth corruption and manipulation in the oil sector, and has kept in place Petroleum Minister Diezani Allison-Madueke, who has been serially accused of corruption and self-enrichment, as well as other officials.
Jonathan has also failed to implement the report of the Nuhu Ribadu-led Petroleum Revenue Special Task Force which last year made important recommendations on how to correct problems in the sector, just as he has throughout his presidency failed to implement various anti-corruption and good governance reports.
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