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Nigerian
Muslims Face Economic Troubles After Petrol Prices Rise
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| Nigerian
Muslims face economic problems
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By
IOL’s Correspondent in Nigeria, Sulaiman Osho
ABEOKUTA,
Nigeria, Jan. 14 (IslamOnline) - Nigerian Muslims have plunged into more
economic hardship since the new increase in the prices of petroleum products in
Nigeria, a Nigerian official said.
Speaking
to IslamOnline, the Secretary-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for
Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Dr. Abdul-Lateef Adegbite, said that the increase in
the price of petroleum products by 42 per cent was quite unexpected of the
democratic government.
The
liberalisation policy of the government should bring about more convenience for
the populace, he explained.
The
Muslim leader noted that the gain of democracy for the Muslims who form over 75
per cent of the population in Africa's largest country should be additional
earnings and more economic improvement.
He
contended that the increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, and kerosene in the
new year by the government has led to the increase in transport fares by the
motorists by nearly 90 to 100 per cent.
Dr.
Adegbite declared that many Muslims in Nigeria now find it difficult to have
three square meals and that their businesses are getting affected as they find
it difficult to move about due to high cost of fares.
Meanwhile,
the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has threatened to call out the Nigerian
workers to embark on an indefinite strike action by January 16, 2002 if the
Federal Government refused to withdraw its decision to revert to the old price
of N22.00 per litre of petrol rather than the new price of N26.00.
The
President of the NLC, Adams Oshiomole, gave this warning while reacting to the
new price increase in Lagos,warning that the Nigerian workers would resist the
price increase till the end.
He
noted that the workers were ready "to make the country un-governable for
the President" if the administration refused to reason with the workers.
The
labour leader contended that the price increase had improverished the workers
more, making it difficult for them to have the necessities of life, noting that
the prices of essential commodities have skyrocketted due to the increase in
transport fares.
Meanwhile,
fuel was available in all the petrol stations visited by IslamOnline’s
correspondent, including Abeokuta, Lagos, Ibadan and Abuja, as dealers effected
the new prices on their petrol meters.
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