Buhari under fire for comparing petrol price in Nigeria with Saudi Arabia

President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attack for saying it makes no sense for petrol to be cheaper in Nigeria than Saudi Arabia.

Buhari had said this while justifying the recent hike in petroleum price during his Independence Day broadcast on Thursday.

He had said, “In the circumstances, a responsible government must face realities and take tough decisions. Petroleum prices in Nigeria are to be adjusted. We sell now at N161 per litre.

“Further afield, Egypt charges N211 per litre. Saudi Arabia charges N168 per litre. It makes no sense for oil to be cheaper in Nigeria than in Saudi Arabia.”

Reacting, Nigerians on social media queried why Buhari only compared Nigeria petroleum price to Saudi Arabia and not its minimum wage.

Here are some comments gathered from Twitter:

@Sampo, “Had there been any past administration with abundant resources? Unequivocally, President Buhari is a failure. He totally lacks everything required of the right man Nigeria and Nigerians need at this precarious state of our country. Leave us to our fate. Your rhetoric is insulting.”

@Myunicy,”In 2015, Nigeria had a mini-revolution when the PDP was dislodged. People dared to express hope of “change” the Buhari govt promised but see where we are now.

“We got rid of darkness only to implant the flag of another set of abusers who operate the same blueprint of oppression.”

@letterto_jack, “So now it makes no sense for oil to be cheaper here than in Saudi?

“You didn’t know this in January 2012 when you came out to protest subsidy removal? And asked the infamous question, “Who is subsidizing whom?” on video?”

@thelmo, “Don’t arrest me but do you know the minimum wage in Saudi Arabia?”

@Tolusaba, “You know, if electricity was constant, people wouldn’t care so much how much petroleum products cost.

“Petroleum products are expensive in most countries but for the average resident, there isn’t much need for it in the first place.”

@_inyene,”I don’t understand this need to justify failure and gross incompetence. This tweet got to me I won’t lie.”

@favygiant, “Nigeria @ 60 is nothing to celebrate about. It’s severe Delayed Development Milestone for me. A country that has failed to even start crawling.”

@AyanfeofGod, “Minimum wage is Saudi Arabia is N305,000. Minimum wages in Nigeria is N30,000 yet you want to compare the fuel price in Nigeria to Saudi Arabia. These people are just taking us for fools. ”

@Benking452,”Our Oga has embraced his failures. I think it makes no sense too that Saudi’s living standard, minimum wage, currency value etc are all way better than Nigeria’s.”

@thevictorr_,”Buhari don’t know that the only time to compare Nigeria to other countries is when we’re talking about bad police or corruption or poverty.”