The African Democratic Congress (ADC) has urged President Bola Tinubu to urgently address the hardship caused by rising petrol prices, saying the pump price of N1,470 per litre is pushing Nigerians to their limits.

The party, in a statement issued on Tuesday by its National Publicity Secretary, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi, said the rising cost of petrol had triggered increases in transportation, food, electricity, education and other basic necessities.

According to the ADC, the impact of the fuel price is particularly evident in the education sector, with some private schools reportedly increasing fees by between 30 and 40 per cent despite stagnant incomes.

“Parents are not earning 40 per cent more. Their salaries have not risen with the prices of fuel, food, rent, transportation, and school fees. Yet, at every turn, families are being asked to pay more,” the party said.

The ADC, however, said it did not blame school proprietors for the fee increases, noting that they were also grappling with rising taxes, electricity bills, fuel costs, rent and staff salaries.

It said the prevailing economic situation was affecting parents, workers and businesses alike, forcing families to make difficult choices over feeding, education, healthcare and other essential needs.

“A reform that continuously makes the people poorer needs to be reassessed. An economic policy should translate to improved welfare in homes, not just impressive figures at government briefings,” the party said.

The opposition party said the 2027 general election would give Nigerians an opportunity to choose between continuing with the current economic approach and adopting the relief programme proposed by its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar.

The ADC restated Atiku’s commitment to reducing petrol prices through increased domestic fuel production, arguing that lower fuel costs would help reduce the prices of food, transportation and production.

“Economic reform must serve the people. Nigeria as an oil-producing country should ensure that citizens do not experience every visit to a filling station as a burden,” the party said.

The party consequently called on the Federal Government to take urgent steps to alleviate the hardship associated with rising fuel prices.

“The people are suffering, businesses are struggling, and hope is becoming expensive. President Tinubu must act now,” the ADC said.