…Criticizes FGN for allowing Nigerians to suffer untold hardships caused by artificial fluctuations of fuel prices.
Prominent pro-democracy and civil rights advocacy group HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has attributed the apparent and absolute monopoly of the Dangote refinery in the country for the constantly fluctuating exorbitant and absolutely unaffordable pump price of petrol which is now pegged at N1,400. HURIWA wondered why officials of NNPCL that robbed the country of billions of dollars in fake maintenance and turn around of the 5 dysfunctional publicly owned Refineries in the last 10 years under All Progressives Congress government are not jailed and the stolen money recovered.
HURIWA stated that it is miffed that the Indigenously owned modern crude oil refinery which millions of Nigerians have always supported and prayed for, has turn out to become the most traumatising agent of poverty and that the diminishing ability of millions of Nigerians to enjoy their constitutionally guaranteed fundamental rights including freedom of movement, Right to life and the Right to the dignity of the human person created by the acute incapacity of millions of Nigerian Households to afford the high costs of petrol to power the electricity energy needs of these households that are cut off from the poorly performing national grid, should be blamed on the monopolistic stranglehold of Nigeria by Dangote Refinery created by government’s tolerated heists of public funds by officials of NNPCL.
The Rights group said it is baffling that even in the earliest days of the USA/ISRAEL versus IRAN war, Nigerians were already been subjected to high costs of fuel even when it is notorious that the only bulk supplier of fuel all across Nigeria that maintains an irresistible monopoly the Dangote Refinery received their supplies of crude oil from Nigeria and the company reportedly paid in Naira denomination. “So how was Dangote Refinery charging Nigerians for their fuel supplies as if the company depends on crude oil from Iran for their refining business in Nigeria?”
Besides, HURIWA wondered how come as soon as the meaningless war in the Gulf region (Iran) started, the Dangote Refinery already positioned itself to maximise profits at the grave costs of poor Nigerians most of whom must move from place to place for their essentials and for their survival. “HURIWA is miffed that it is becoming increasingly difficult for millions of Nigerians to survive and conduct their economic, social and religious activities seamlessly given the unaffordable costs of fuel created by the Dangote Refinery monopoly in Nigeria. NIGERIANS IN THEIR MILLIONS ARE CHOKING TO UNTIMELY DEATHS BECAUSE OF HIGH COSTS OF FUEL, DIESEL AND KEROSENE.
HURIWA criticises the government for allowing Dangote Refinery to maintain a monopoly to such a bad extent that Nigeria, Vietnam have highest fuel price hikes worldwide amid Iran, US-Israel war
The Rights group in a media statement by COMRADE EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO the National Coordinator of HURIWA lamented that Nigeria and Vietnam have seen the highest increases in fuel pump prices worldwide since the February 28, 2026, war escalation between Iran and the United States-Israel in the Middle East.
The conflict, which entered its 19th day on last weekend, has led to a surge in crude oil prices, by extension impacting domestic fuel prices across economies.
Media reports that since the Iran-US-Israel conflict, the Gulf region has been in turmoil, leading to disruption in trade in the Strait of Hormuz and Middle Eastern energy facilities.
Recent data from Investinsight, a United Kingdom-based firm, said Vietnam and Nigeria recorded the highest increase in gasoline prices, with 50 percent and 40 percent hikes, respectively, since the war began.
According to the data, Australia, the United States, Singapore, Germany, Spain, Canada, and China trailed behind Vietnam and Nigeria with between 17.2 and 10 percent fuel price hikes within the period under review.
Meanwhile, Colombia, Brazil, India, and Russia have between -3.1 percent and 0.4 percent hikes in petrol price to pass for the countries with the gasoline price increment, according to Investinsight.
Local media in Nigeria reports that in the past 19 days, Nigeria’s fuel price has skyrocketed to between N1,261 and N1,330 per liter in Abuja and environs, up from between N875 and 900 per liter.
This represents between a 44 percent and 48 percent fuel price hike.
The petrol price increment came after Dangote Refinery hiked its gantry petrol price to N1,175 per liter, up from N799 per liter before the war, amid rising crude oil prices, which topped $100 per barrel as Middle East supply collapsed.
HURIWA blames Dangote Refinery and government of Nigeria entirely for subjecting our citizens to these untold hardships just as the Rights group said because the proprietor of the sole functional refinery is the poster boy of the Tinubu’s administration, the company has been allowed to play poker with the sensibilities of Nigerian fuel consumers.
COMRADE EMMANUEL NNADOZIE ONWUBIKO,
NATIONAL COORDINATOR,
HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA ). MONDAY 23RD MARCH 2026.
