ActionAid Urges FG To Act As Fuel Price Hits ₦1,400/Litre

ActionAid Nigeria has called on the federal government to urgently deploy emergency measures to cushion the impact of rising fuel prices, which have climbed to as high as ₦1,400 per litre in parts of the country.

The organisation said the worsening situation is largely driven by the ongoing global conflict involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, warning that Nigerians are already facing severe economic hardship as a result.

In a statement issued in Abuja, the country director of ActionAid Nigeria, Andrew Mamedu, expressed concern that despite the crisis lasting over a month, there has been no coordinated response from the federal government to mitigate its effects.

He noted that while global crude oil prices have surged to about $100 per barrel—up from $75–$80 prior to the crisis—Nigeria has yet to translate the resulting increased revenues into relief for citizens.

ActionAid Nigeria, however, acknowledged a limited intervention by the Oyo State Government, which recently introduced a ₦10,000 wage support initiative.

According to the organisation’s findings from community engagements across several states, petrol prices now range between ₦1,200 and ₦1,400 per litre, while diesel prices remain persistently high, further compounding economic pressures.

It warned that the rising fuel costs have triggered a ripple effect across the economy, with transport fares and food prices surging, pushing millions of Nigerians deeper into poverty.

The group said workers, farmers, transport operators, students, and small business owners are among those hardest hit, with many small and medium enterprises scaling down or shutting operations due to escalating energy and logistics costs.

It also highlighted growing distress among households, including meal skipping, school absenteeism due to transport costs, and increased reliance on borrowing, alongside a rise in unsafe transport alternatives and informal fuel markets.

Describing the situation as unacceptable, Mamedu said Nigerians should not bear the burden of global oil price increases without corresponding government support.

“It is unacceptable that Nigerians continue to suffer the consequences of global oil price increases while the country fails to translate its oil wealth into protection for its people,” he said.

He added that other countries have taken proactive steps to shield their citizens, citing examples such as Thailand and Indonesia, where governments have implemented fuel price controls, subsidies, and energy management policies.

ActionAid Nigeria called on the federal government to roll out targeted cash transfers, reintroduce time-bound fuel subsidies, and support public transportation systems to ease the burden on citizens.

The organisation also recommended reducing taxes and logistics costs contributing to fuel price increases, protecting critical supply chains, and strengthening the crude-for-naira framework to stabilise domestic fuel supply.

It further urged the private sector to adopt measures such as transport support, flexible work arrangements, and cost-of-living adjustments for workers, while calling on state and local governments to reinforce community safety nets.

“The global crisis may be beyond Nigeria’s control, but the government’s response is not. Immediate and decisive steps must be taken to protect Nigerians from further hardship,” the statement added.