By Capital Watch Media
Your Excellency,
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,
President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,
Aso Rock Villa, Abuja.
Dear Mr. President,
I extend my warm regards to you, with the hope that this letter finds you in good health and sound spirit. As the President of Almushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA), I write to urgently bring to your attention the pressing challenges facing the Nigerian populace, particularly the growing hardship due to the rising cost of fuel and the adverse economic effects it has unleashed.
It is with great concern that I address the need for immediate intervention in the issue of fuel pricing, which has become a source of considerable public distress. As you are aware, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) continues to dictate the price of fuel in a manner that many, including legal experts like Femi Falana, SAN, have rightfully described as illegal. The basis of their argument is grounded in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), a law designed to foster competition, transparency, and fairness in our oil and gas sector.
Mr. President, the hardship that the ordinary Nigerian faces today cannot be overstated. The removal of subsidies, while seen as a necessary reform, has inadvertently placed immense pressure on millions of Nigerians. Fuel prices, which should be determined by market forces as envisaged under the PIA, are instead being dictated by the NNPCL—an entity that should no longer wield such influence in a deregulated market. This unilateral control over pricing undermines the very essence of the PIA, distorts market dynamics, and perpetuates inefficiencies in a sector long plagued by corruption and opacity.
AITA, as an organization dedicated to promoting transparency and accountability, stands in full support of the legal and moral arguments raised by Falana. The urgent call for compliance with the PIA is not merely a matter of legal interpretation but one of economic justice. The continued monopoly of NNPCL over pricing decisions not only violates the provisions of the law but also deprives the Nigerian people of the opportunity to benefit from a truly competitive and fair market.
We believe that the federal government, under your leadership, can effect meaningful change by taking decisive steps to ensure that the PIA is implemented in full. This would restore investor confidence, both locally and internationally, and position Nigeria as a model for transparency and accountability in the global petroleum industry. More importantly, it would alleviate the severe economic pressure on Nigerians who are struggling to afford the basic necessities of life.
Your Excellency, the country looks to your leadership in these trying times. The decisions you make today will have far-reaching implications for the future of Nigeria’s economy and the well-being of its citizens. I urge you to immediately address this issue, ensuring that the principles of fairness, transparency, and market competition are upheld in the pricing of petroleum products.
This is a call for urgent attention, not only to comply with the law but to safeguard the welfare of the people. As an Abuja-based NGO with a strong commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring good governance, AITA remains ready to work alongside your administration in pursuing reforms that promote economic stability and social justice.
I trust that you will give this matter the urgent attention it deserves.
Yours sincerely,
Ambassador Aminu Majidadi
President, Almushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA)
Abuja.
