Northern Christian Elders Urge Tinubu to Reverse Petrol Price Hike

<p>By Momodu Becky<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p><strong>The Northern States Christian Elders Forum has called on President Bola Tinubu to reverse the latest increase in the pump price of petrol&comma; warning that Nigerians’ patience with the worsening economic situation should not be interpreted as acceptance&period;<&sol;strong><&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;nigeria-commits-domestic-education-funding-through-2030-seeks-more-global-support&sol;">Nigeria Commits Domestic Education Funding Through 2030&comma; Seeks More Global Support<&sol;a><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The forum made the call in a statement issued on Thursday by its Chairman&comma; Elder Sunday Oibe&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The elders expressed concern that another increase in petrol prices would further raise the cost of living and compound the economic difficulties already facing millions of Nigerians&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>They urged the Federal Government to consider the impact of its policies on ordinary citizens&comma; particularly amid rising living costs&comma; unemployment&comma; insecurity and deteriorating infrastructure&period;<&sol;p><p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;adc-denies-apc-defection-claim-says-paraded-persons-are-not-its-candidates&sol;">ADC Denies APC Defection Claim&comma; Says &OpenCurlyQuote;Paraded’ Persons Are Not Its Candidates<&sol;a><&sol;p><&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>According to the forum&comma; the administration should use the remaining period of its tenure to address the immediate challenges confronting Nigerians rather than imposing additional financial burdens on the population&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>&OpenCurlyDoubleQuote;The patience of Nigerians should not be mistaken for acceptance of perpetual hardship&comma;” the elders warned&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The forum also advised the government to explore alternative and sustainable sources of revenue if additional funds are required to finance its programmes and meet its obligations&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p class&equals;"ari-link"><strong>Read also&colon;<&sol;strong> <a href&equals;"https&colon;&sol;&sol;sparknewsdaily&period;com&period;ng&sol;adc-aspirants-from-four-northern-states-join-apc-back-tinubu-for-2027&sol;">ADC Aspirants from Four Northern States Join APC&comma; Back Tinubu for 2027<&sol;a><&sol;p><p>It cautioned against relying continually on fuel price increases as a means of raising revenue&comma; arguing that such measures transfer more economic pressure to citizens&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;<p>The elders therefore appealed to President Tinubu to reconsider the latest petrol price increase and pursue measures that would ease the economic burden on Nigerians&period;<&sol;p>&NewLine;