Veteran Nigerian comic actor, Wale Akorede, popularly known as Okunnu, has strongly condemned the recent, rapid surge in the pump price of petrol across the country, turning his criticism toward petroleum marketers and questioning the role ordinary Nigerians play in the worsening economic hardship.
Taking to his Instagram page in a recent video, the actor expressed deep frustration over the erratic price jumps he observed over a single weekend.
He noted with dismay that the price of petrol jumped from N1,240 per litre on Saturday to N1,340 per litre by Sunday, prompting him to ask who is truly to blame for the crisis.
“As of yesterday, which was the 21st, petrol was N1,240 per litre. Today, which is Sunday, petrol is now N1,340 per litre. Is it the government that increased it or we, Nigerians?” the actor asked his followers.
Okunnu strongly dismissed arguments that attribute the skyrocketing prices to the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, pointing out the irony of such high fuel costs in a nation that produces its own crude oil.
“… What the marketers are doing with regards to petrol pump prices is not small. We know there is war in Israel and Iran, but don’t we have our own crude oil? Why is our petrol so expensive? Other countries have petrol, why is theirs not as expensive as ours? We are the ones punishing ourselves,” he fumed in the video.
The actor further emphasized that other oil-producing countries are not subjecting their citizens to similar financial strain.
“We have our own crude oil, so why is fuel expensive? Other countries have fuel too, but theirs isn’t expensive. We are the ones responsible for this hardship,” he reiterated.
Okunnu’s most pressing concern, however, was for low-income earners who bear the brunt of the inflationary ripple effect caused by the fuel hikes.
He specifically highlighted the plight of commercial motorcyclists, commonly known as bike men, who rely on affordable petrol for their daily livelihood.
“What of those who cannot afford basic needs? Bike men? What will be their current situation because things will become expensive now, plus their low income?” he asked passionately.
The actor’s outburst comes on the heels of reports from last week indicating that Nigeria recorded the highest petrol price increase globally. The country saw a staggering 39.5% rise, which officials have largely linked to global supply disruptions stemming from the Middle East conflict.
Despite earlier expectations that the commencement of local refining would crash and stabilize pump prices, petrol continues to sell for upwards of N1,200 to N1,340 in various parts of the country, leading to a massive spike in transport fares and the cost of living.
