The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to immediately reverse the recent increase in the pump price of petrol, describing it as “illegal and unconstitutional.”
SERAP urged the President to use his leadership to address the issue and “to direct the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr. Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), and appropriate anti-corruption agencies to probe the allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the NNPC.”
In an open letter dated September 7, 2024, and signed by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the organization stated, “The increase in petrol price constitutes a fundamental breach of constitutional guarantees and the country’s international human rights obligations.” SERAP further emphasized that the Nigerian people “have for far too long been denied justice and the opportunity to get to the bottom of why they continue to pay the price for corruption in the oil sector.”
The letter also highlighted the economic impact on citizens: “The increase in petrol price has rendered already impoverished citizens incapable of satisfying their minimum needs for survival.” SERAP criticized the government’s approach, stating, “Rather than pursuing public policies to address the growing poverty and inequality in the country, and holding the NNPC to account for the alleged corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector, your government seems to be punishing the poor.”
If no action is taken within 48 hours, SERAP warned it would “consider appropriate legal actions to compel your government to comply with our request in the public interest.” The organization reminded the government of its obligations under the Nigerian Constitution, stating, “Section 13 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended] imposes clear responsibility on your government to conform to, observe and apply the provisions of Chapter 2 of the constitution,” and that “Section 15(5) imposes the responsibility on your government to ‘abolish all corrupt practices’ including in the NNPC.”
SERAP concluded by stating, “Your government has a legal obligation to mobilize the maximum of the country’s available resources to ensure people’s socio-economic rights and to protect the most vulnerable and disadvantaged Nigerians,” and that “investigating and prosecuting allegations of corruption and mismanagement in the oil sector would be entirely consistent with the Nigerian Constitution, and the country’s international anti-corruption obligations,” the statement continued.
