From Premium Times Nigeria · Press Release · · 1m 50s
30-day fuel: Alálùpàídà and his devil’s water
Nigerian government's 30-day fuel price intervention reveals economic illusionism.
In brief
Nigerian government's 30-day fuel price intervention reveals economic illusionism. Nigerian government's N1,350 per litre fuel price ceiling creates a temporary illusion of relief while deepening economic hardship. Originally reported by Premium Times Nigeria.
Government announces 30-day fuel price intervention
Nigerian government sets petrol price at N1,350 per litre at designated NNPCL stations for 30 days.
“In the government’s announcement, petrol will henceforth be on offer at N1,350 per litre at designated NNPCL stations”
Devil’s water metaphor
Ngugi wa Thiong’o’s novel Weep Not, Child describes devil’s water as a mirage that disappears when approached.
“Njoroge’s mother had told him that this was devil’s water, water that kept on retreating so that you could never reach it, however fast you ran”
Alálùpàídà and Pidánpidán
Alálùpàídà and Pidánpidán are traditional Nigerian illusionists who make things vanish or change form.
“They were famously reputed with the power to make things vanish or change form, right before your eyes”
Historical context of fuel prices
Petrol sold for under ₦200 per litre before May 2023, now at N1,350 per litre.
“Before May 2023, same petrol sold for under ₦200 per litre”
Economic impact of fuel prices
Rising fuel costs increase food haulage, electricity, and transportation expenses for Nigerians.
“When pump prices hit exponentially as they have crazily been in years of this government, there is a skyrocket of food haulage costs”
Government’s economic strategy
Tinubu government frames N60 fuel price reduction as a temporary intervention to cushion economic hardship.
“The government has framed its token reduction of petrol price by n sixty as a father christmas intervention”
Economic parasitism
Political elites socialize petrol costs while privatizing benefits for a microscopic minority.
“Our elites organize and accumulate wealth of society for themselves”
Agbèrò economy
Agbèrò economy involves informal, predatory tactics where officials extort money from everyday workers.
“An agbèrò is less concerned about the condition of the bus, nor the passengers”
Food inflation crisis
Staple foods have become luxury items as food inflation reaches historically high levels.
“Staple foods of middle- and low-income households like beans, bread, gari and rice have suddenly morphed from what they were, basic sustenance, into luxury items”
Economic hardship
Nigerians face mental health challenges, crime spikes, and family friction due to economic hardship.
“Husbands have been de-masculinized by tinubu and his alalupaida economic voodooists because they can no longer function effectively as breadwinners”
Government’s economic deception
Government’s N1,350 fuel price ceiling creates a mirage of relief that disappears when approached.
“The n1360 fuel price is like that puddle. It is primed to look like relief or salvation, a water puddle from a distance, but when you get closer to it, it turns out to be an illusion born of scorching heat and barrenness”
Economic consequences
Nigerian economy faces deepening crisis with rising costs and falling purchasing power.
“The economic hardship provoked by this government’s policies is benumbing”
Political elite’s strategy
Political elites prioritize their own accumulation of wealth over public welfare.
“If you then apply this theory of accumulation into the fuel war ongoing in nigeria, you will see how the political elite in government have socialized costs of petrol, privatized its benefits in the hands of a microscopic minority and left the burden of their reform on all of us”
Economic reality
Nigerians live in a concrete jungle with no economic relief from government policies.
“It is a grim situation. Painting the picture of a concrete jungle, marley said: no sun will shine in my day today”
Conclusion
Government’s economic strategy creates a temporary illusion of relief while deepening economic hardship.
“To think that any hope will come from promises of an economic redemption from people who are sworn to a life of illusory governance is to tug at empty air”
The short version
Nigerian government's N1,350 per litre fuel price ceiling creates a temporary illusion of relief while deepening economic hardship.
