The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Lagos State Branch, has lamented the surge in the price of fuel in the country, News About Nigeria reports.
The State Chairman, Dr Saheed Babajide, in a statement on Thursday, expressed concern and dismay over the sudden hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).
He noted that the unilateral decision has imposed further unbearable hardship on Nigerians.
He lamented that the situation in the country is seriously affecting their members, who are already grappling with severe economic challenges and insecurity, adding that the impact of this decision will ripple across all sectors, further deepening the mental, social, and emotional stress that citizens are currently experiencing.
The Lagos NMA, therefore, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently intervene in the matter, urging him to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by immediately reversing the price hike of PMS to its previous level.
The statement reads in part, “The hike in PMS prices comes at a time when Nigerians are enduring unprecedented economic pressures. The impact of this decision will ripple across all sectors, further deepening the mental, social, and emotional stress that citizens are currently experiencing.
“With inflation rates soaring and the cost of living at an all-time high, the sudden spike in petrol prices will not only increase the poverty level across the country but also contribute to rising rates of depression, hospital admissions related to stress-induced medical conditions, social unrest, and even mortality.
“Many of these medical and dental doctors are being forced to leave the country in droves due to the dismal economic situation, and this recent development will only exacerbate the already dire circumstances they face.
“How can we rationalise a situation where doctors, who earn an average of $300 per month, are expected to navigate such astronomical increases in the cost of living? The recent hike in PMS prices has only worsened an already unsustainable economic reality for healthcare professionals, and indeed all Nigerians, making it nearly impossible for them to cope.
“We urge him to prioritise the welfare of Nigerians by immediately reversing the price hike of PMS to its previous level. Such a move will provide much-needed relief to our members and the general public, who are already struggling under the weight of the recent removal of petrol subsidies, escalating inflation, rampant insecurity, high electricity tariffs, and excessive taxation on wages.
“Furthermore, instead of continually burdening the populace with rising fuel prices, we strongly advise the Federal Government to rethink its economic policies. It is high time Nigeria moved towards self-sufficiency in the production of petroleum products, including PMS.”
