By GARBA MUHAMMAD, Kaduna

Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has expressed shock over the announced increase in fuel pump price to N617 and N568 per litre in Abuja and Lagos respectively.

A statement by National Secretary of NUJ, Shuaibu Usman Leman (Walin Shadalafiya), reads:

“Nigeria Union of Journalists is alarmed at the just announced increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) to N617 per litre in Abuja and N568 in Lagos respectively.

“This development has already triggered astronomical increases in transportation costs, with prices of food items soaring almost beyond the reach of many citizens, even as users of generators to power their homes are already groaning uncontrollably under the present situation.

“While we applaud the decision to remove the costly subsidies on fuel, however, we had cautioned against a hasty implementation of the policy without putting mitigating measures in place to cushion the excruciating effects.

“We are saddened by the fact that today, most people can hardly commute to work or other places of business without too much stress because the embarrassing sudden surge in petrol prices has made it so.

“We believe that this sudden decision is an over kill and we urge that the situation should be reversed immediately while adequate measures are considered and put in place to lessen the effects on ordinary Nigerians.”