Once again, Nigeria’s struggling masses are forced to bear the brunt of yet another petrol price hike, a staggering increase that has seen fuel prices skyrocket to as much as N897 per litre in Abuja. This latest act of economic cruelty comes as Nigerians are already buckling under immense pressure from inflation, joblessness, and the ever-widening gap between the rich and the poor. How, we ask, is the average Nigerian supposed to survive?

The reality is grim: transportation costs have risen by over 50%, meaning that basic necessities—food, medicine, utilities—are further out of reach for millions. What was once a harrowing commute has now become a nightmare of extortionate fares, leaving citizens no choice but to either pay exorbitant amounts for public transport or face the indignity of walking long distances. Parents can no longer afford to send their children to school, and breadwinners are being pushed to their breaking points. As businesses face rising overhead costs, the prices of everyday goods are spiraling out of control, exacerbating an already dire situation.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) rightly warns that this hike will push inflation even higher, squeezing the last breath out of an economy that has long been gasping for air. As transportation costs surge, so do the prices of goods and services, creating a domino effect of hardship. What this means is that the Nigerian worker, already underpaid and overtaxed, now faces the brutal choice between survival and dignity. Businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, are already closing their doors as the cost of operating becomes unsustainable. Job losses are imminent. And for what?

We are constantly fed promises of reforms and economic revival by the federal government, yet every action they take seems to drag Nigeria closer to collapse. President Bola Tinubu’s administration insists that these price hikes are necessary to stabilize the country, but stabilizing at what cost? A government that claims to be working for the people must first be willing to listen to them. Instead, there is deafening silence from the corridors of power as Nigerians cry out for help.

Pan-Yoruba socio-political group Afenifere, the opposition PDP, and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have all demanded an immediate reversal of this latest price hike. Yet, what is most infuriating is the government’s audacity to ignore these calls. The presidency’s dismissive response to the outcry, insinuating that the hike is simply a byproduct of broader economic adjustments, is not only tone-deaf but downright insulting to the millions living in poverty.

Nigeria is sitting on a powder keg, and this latest move could ignite an explosion of unrest. Already, tricycle riders in Delta State have taken to the streets in protest. The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) is preparing for nationwide demonstrations on September 15. Yet, there’s no sign that the government is prepared to alter its course.

For how long will the Nigerian government continue to play this dangerous game with the lives of its people? How much more can the average Nigerian endure? The so-called "reforms" have stripped away every semblance of security, leaving a country of over 200 million people at the mercy of global oil prices, political mismanagement, and unaccountable leadership.

The truth is plain: this fuel price hike is a death sentence for millions of Nigerians already drowning in poverty. If this government does not act swiftly to reverse this decision and implement genuine economic relief measures, it will plunge Nigeria into deeper chaos.

Nigeria’s most valuable resource is not its oil—it's its people. Yet, with every price hike, the government demonstrates that it cares more about balancing its books than ensuring that its citizens can put food on the table.

This is unsustainable. And if the government continues down this path, it will be remembered not for leading Nigeria into prosperity, but for driving it into ruin.