The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has noted that the hike in fuel price caused by fuel subsidy removal has placed enormous burden on Nigerians.
The Christian body, therefore, asked the Federal Government to quickly alleviate the hardship faced by already burdened masses.
CAN made this comment via a statement signed and released by its President, Archbishop Daniel Okoh who said though the removal of fuel subsidy had become inevitable if the Nigerian economy is to experience sustainable growth, it must be done in a way that Nigerians won’t be subjected to untold hardship.
“Against the backdrop of the recent unprecedented hikes in fuel prices and alarming inflation, the national leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria wishes to express its deepest concerns over the hardships faced by Nigerians, and calls for immediate steps to prevailing mitigate the situation.
“While Nigerians were trying to adjust to the initial increase in the fuel price to N540 and its consequential effect on the cost of transportation, food, goods and services, and the general cost of living, another hike alluded tomarket forces took the price to N617,” he said.
“This has placed enormous burden on the already struggling masses, further widening the gap between the rich and the poor and drastically eroding the purchasing power of ordinary citizens, and making it extremely difficult for them to afford the basic necessities of life. The situation is just unbearable for millions of Nigerians who were already suffering poverty.”
CAN called on President Bola Tinubu government to look for means to “alleviate rather than exacerbate the existing poverty level and hardships of Nigerians”.
According to the Christian body, the government should focus the economy, reducing dependency on volatile commodities, and promoting investments in sectors.