Former Nigeria’s head of state, Abdulsalami Abubakar has said that increase in the pump price of fuel will further push Nigerians into poverty.
Speaking at the 19th Daily Trust Summit in Abuja, he observed that the country is facing challenges on multiple fronts and a hike in fuel price will only compound the situation.
“On top of all these, fuel prices are expected to rise significantly in the coming months as announced last November by the NNPC.
“We all know when this happens, as the government has planned, it will push many millions deeper into poverty.
According to him, the country’s rising unemployment or underemployment level is impacting the security of the nation.
“Unemployment or underemployment remain at record levels. And over 80 million Nigerians are still caught up in needless poverty.
“All of these tend to have negative effects on security. “In fact, Nigeria now faces a food security crisis that is compounded by the COVID-19 global pandemic and the banditry in many states in Northern Nigeria.
“All of these have disrupted the fragile value chains across the country, and negatively impacted the ability of Nigerians to produce, process, and distribute food,” Abdulsalami said.
