Tinubu is a symbol of hardship, corruption – Take it back movement urges Nigerian to protest
The Take-It-Back Movement has called on Nigerians to unite and prepare for the #FearlessInOctober protest, aimed at addressing the increasing hardships under President Bola Tinubu’s government. The movement, a pro-democracy group, has strongly criticised Tinubu’s policies, accusing his administration of fostering corruption and worsening economic oppression. The skyrocketing cost of living has been a central point of their criticism.
In a statement released on Tuesday via their official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the group urged Nigerians to mark October 1 for a nationwide protest under the hashtags #FearlessInOctober and #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria2.0. The statement reads: “Nigerians, brace yourselves: General Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a symbol of hardship and corruption, has taken the helm. Mark your calendars for October 1 and join the #FearlessInOctober #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria2.0 protest to fight for our nation’s future and end the oppressive rule.”
This call to action comes at a time when Nigerians are grappling with unprecedented fuel price hikes, a direct consequence of the removal of petrol subsidies in May 2023. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has confirmed that fuel prices now range from N855 to N897 per litre, depending on the location, with independent marketers pushing prices as high as N930 to N1,200 per litre. Since the subsidy removal, petrol prices have more than tripled, deepening the economic challenges faced by citizens who rely on fuel for both transportation and electricity generation.
As the October 1 protest date draws closer, the Take-It-Back Movement’s call is expected to intensify discussions about the state of the nation’s leadership and the impact of President Tinubu’s policies on the everyday lives of Nigerians.
In a related development, oil marketers have expressed growing concerns over the future price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. According to a report from SaharaReporters, the landing cost of imported petrol has surged to approximately N1,120 per litre, putting further pressure on marketers to seek alternative sources. The landing cost, which stood at N1,117 per litre in July, has led to increased pump prices, which ranged from N600 to N700 per litre in July but have now climbed to between N855 and N897 per litre. Some independent dealers have even set their prices above N1,000 per litre.
The ongoing delay in announcing the official price for petrol from the Dangote refinery has only added to the uncertainty in the market. This has led to discussions with foreign partners to explore the feasibility of importing petrol, as competition in the open market continues to grow. Abubakar Maigandi, the National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), confirmed that the association is actively engaged in talks with international partners to assess the costs and logistics of importing fuel.
