Prominent Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain Bode George has called on President Bola Tinubu to lower the pump price of petrol to N300 per litre during the festive season.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, George proposed the reduction to span from mid-December to the end of January, allowing Nigerians to celebrate the holidays with some financial relief.
George emphasized that the government should bear the cost of the temporary subsidy to bring smiles to Nigerians during this crucial period. “There are two months in any calendar year that are very important—December and January,” he noted. “Whether you are Christian, Muslim, atheist, or traditionalist, these months hold significant meaning worldwide.”
He urged Tinubu to take this opportunity to give back to Nigerians, suggesting that such a gesture would foster goodwill and unity across the country. “Reducing the petrol price to N300 per litre would positively impact every household. The government can absorb the losses, and it’s a challenge the President can meet,” George said.
Highlighting the First Lady’s recent donation of N1 billion to a university, George argued that similar contributions could offset the cost of reducing petrol prices. “If Madam First Lady could donate to a university, she could also support this initiative to bring relief to Nigerians. This would send a message of happiness across tribes and homes,” he added.
George expressed hope that such a move would bring joy and comfort during the festive season, urging the government to take action to ease the economic burden on citizens.
Meanwhile, concerns about rising fuel prices continue to loom. The President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlet Owners Association (PETROAN), Billy Gillis-Harry, and the Spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Chinedu Ukadike, have indicated that petrol prices could climb to between N900 and N1,000 per litre during the Yuletide season.
The proposed temporary reduction in petrol prices by George stands in stark contrast to these predictions, presenting a challenge to the federal government to act decisively in alleviating the economic pressures on Nigerians during the holidays.
