Fuel Is 1,300, Nigerians Need 130k To Fill 100 Litre Tank In Nation Where Minimum Wage Is 70k — Okonkwo
In a recent statement via his official X account on Monday August 31, 2026, Kenneth Okonkwo, a spokesperson for the African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential campaign of Atiku Abubakar, has called for stronger support for local refineries to reduce the high cost of petrol in Nigeria.
“Dangote Refinery imports most of the crude oil it uses for refining at the high international volatile price of oil. Today, the fuel price is about N1,300 per litre at the pumps. A Nigerian needs about N130,000 to fill a 100 litre fuel tank in a nation where the minimum wage is N70,000. Tinubu’s government has therefore failed to provide affordable fuel when all the fuel was imported and also failed when the fuel is locally produced,” he wrote.
In his post, Okonkwo stated that the coming on stream of the Dangote Refinery initially gave Nigerians hope that locally produced petrol would become more affordable.
According to him, the refinery has the capacity to produce a large volume of refined petroleum products, he said Nigerians expected the government to take advantage of the facility and other local refineries to reduce the pressure caused by expensive imported fuel.
However, Okonkwo argued that the expected reduction in petrol prices has not happened, he blamed the high cost of crude oil and other production expenses for the situation, he said the government failed to provide enough support that could have helped local refineries produce fuel at cheaper prices.
The activist noted that petrol remains too expensive for many Nigerians, he said the high price has placed additional pressure on families and workers, especially at a time when the minimum wage is still low compared with the cost of living.
Okonkwo proposed the return of targeted fuel subsidy, he said the policy should not be used as a blanket payment but should involve supplying crude oil to local refineries at affordable and regular prices.
COURTESY: InfoSite
