Post a comment 
Civil society activist Edmond Abu has rejected the government’s recent fuel price reduction, describing it as inadequate and calling for continued protest action on Tuesday.
The government announced on Monday that petrol would be reduced from NLe35 to NLe33 per litre and diesel from NLe40 to NLe35 per litre following a meeting with Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs). The reduction represents a cut of NLe2 on petrol and NLe5 on diesel.
However, Abu, Executive Director of the Native Consortium and Research Centre, dismissed the adjustment as a “Cocoyebeh” (small) reduction. He noted that global oil prices have dropped by approximately 40 percent, yet local pump prices have only been reduced by 5 to 12 percent.
“The reduction is not proportionate,” Abu said, urging citizens not to be distracted from the planned “All Black” protest scheduled for Tuesday, June 30.
Abu had previously given the government a seven-day ultimatum to reduce fuel prices or face nationwide protests, pointing to the end of the Iran war and the subsequent drop in global oil prices from around $110 to approximately $78 per barrel. He has called on citizens at home and abroad to wear black clothing or black ribbons in solidarity.
The activist argued that fuel prices should be reduced to pre-crisis levels, which he estimated at around Le28.5 per litre, and warned that the Native Consortium would resume protest actions if no meaningful changes are made.
The government has said it will continue to monitor fuel prices and review pump prices as necessary.
