The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has condemned the recent increase in fuel price to over N1,000 per litre, describing it as a “brutal assault” on Nigerians.

The party on Wednesday accused the Bola Tinubu-led federal government of being “anti-people” and “unconcerned” about the suffering of millions of Nigerians.

In a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Debo Ologunagba, the PDP lamented that the persistent increase in fuel price without regard for the people’s wellbeing is akin to “pushing Nigerians to the wall.”

The party noted that over 150 million Nigerians have sunk below the poverty line, businesses are collapsing daily, and the Naira is exchanging for over N1,600 to a Dollar, with high inflation and unemployment rates.

The party said, “There is practically no hope in sight under the current APC government policies as major multi-national companies continue to exit our country in droves in the face of ill-conceived and ill-implemented macro-economic policies.

“The admission by the APC-led Federal Government that it has handed the fate of Nigerians to oil racketeers in the name of free market economy further validates the position of the PDP that the Tinubu-led administration has abdicated the primary purpose of government; which is to provide for the welfare and security of the citizens.

“President Tinubu is the Minister of Petroleum Resources and cannot exonerate his government and officials from the secretive and fraudulent management of the petroleum sector which is fast pushing our nation’s economy to the precipice.”

It further said, “APC has now become an enabler of a cabal of corrupt APC rent-seekers who apparently derive pleasure in inflicting pains on Nigerians while hugely benefiting from the proceeds of incessant increase in fuel price to satisfy and fund their luxury appetite and consumption.

“With the hopeless state of affairs of our nation today, our Party wonders what President Tinubu, during his numerous trips abroad, says to his foreign counterparts in nations where leaders prioritize the welfare of their people!”

“With a deft, transparent and innovative management of resources, economic potentials, comparative advantage and national refining capacity, petrol should not sell more than N250 per litre in Nigeria.

“The PDP calls on President Tinubu to save the country from further socio-economic dislocation by immediately reversing the latest provocative increase in fuel price and revisit all life-discounting and suffocating policies of the APC government,” PDP added.