CSOs urge FG to reverse fuel price hike

Civil Society Organisations have urged the Federal Government to reverse the recent increase in fuel price and expedite actions in introducing palliative measures.

The CSOs also asked the government to declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment in the country.

The CSOs comprising the Nigeria International NGO Forum and the Civil Society Networks in Nigeria supported by the Development Research and Projects Centre made these known at a press briefing held in Abuja on Friday.

The   pump price of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, was raised from N537/litre to N617/litre on July 18, at the filling stations in the country.

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Speaking at the briefing, the Chairman of the North-Wast Civil Society Network, Ahmed Shehu, said “We want the government to declare a state of emergency on youth unemployment and economic resuscitation to enhance skills and create jobs to make them self-reliant. We believe this will reduce their vulnerability to recruitment into criminal activities.

“On subsidy removal, we are urging the government to reverse the recent increase in fuel price and expedite actions in introducing palliative measures and consider measures like rehabilitation of refineries, introducing affordable transportation, exploring other alternative means of energy, review workers salary and include CSOs into the presidential steering committee on palliative to represent the interest of the non-working class.

“We call on government at all levels to improve on its engagement and sensitisation of citizens before taking major decisions, especially on issues of national importance. The government should leverage the presence of the National Orientation Agency and CSOs and its partners in enlightening the citizens to understand its policies and programme, their roles, rights, and responsibilities, this will help in ensuring good governance, inclusiveness, and effective service delivery.

“On security, we call on the government to employ community policing and the use of technology in the fight against banditry, insurgency, and kidnapping. Multi-security coordinated attack should be introduced in wiping away red spots using land and air forces, particularly across all the volatile areas in the Northwest, North Central, and North Eastern parts of the country.”

The networks also urged the government to adopt the National Policy on the protection of civilians, as a mark of deliberate action to reduce the likelihood of harm to civilians and infrastructures during all phases of military operations.

Also speaking, the representative of the Humanitarian Country Team, Peter Egwudah said, there is a need to improve the humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons in the country.

“People are displaced across the country and there is a need to reach them with humanitarian aid,” he said.