Odita Sunday 
By Odita Sunday
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has called on President Bola Tinubu to urgently reduce the price of petrol, arguing that Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) buses alone cannot shield Nigerians from the wider effects of high energy costs.
The rights group said the Federal Government should consider bringing petrol prices closer to the N180-per-litre level obtainable in 2021, while exploring other measures to reduce the cost of energy and ease pressure on households and businesses.
In a statement issued on Sunday, September 20th, 2026, Comrade Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko, National Coordinator, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA), said the government’s push for CNG and electric-powered public transportation could provide relief to commuters but should not be treated as a complete response to the cost-of-living crisis.
HURIWA’s position followed President Tinubu’s directive to the 36 state governors to ensure measurable reductions in transportation costs from October 1 through expanded CNG and electric-powered public transportation programmes.
The organisation acknowledged that cheaper-energy buses could help reduce fares on some routes but argued that the price of petrol affects far more than transportation.
According to HURIWA, fuel costs feed into the prices of manufactured goods, agricultural produce, logistics, construction and the day-to-day operations of small businesses.
It said when energy costs rise, the impact is eventually passed down to consumers, with manufacturers spending more on production and transportation, farmers paying more to move their produce, traders facing higher logistics costs and small businesses spending more on power.
HURIWA therefore questioned the decision to place much of the immediate responsibility for reducing transportation costs on state governors.
The group argued that governors could introduce transport interventions within their states but could not independently determine crude oil prices, regulate the entire downstream petroleum sector or resolve the structural problems affecting Nigeria’s energy market.
HURIWA urged President Tinubu to go beyond temporary interventions and pursue measures capable of delivering a more sustainable reduction in energy costs.
The association acknowledged the President’s argument that a return to the former petrol subsidy regime would impose a heavy financial burden on the country, but maintained that ending the subsidy system should not mean leaving Nigerians exposed to what it described as uncontrolled energy costs.
It called for what it described as a credible middle ground between the former subsidy regime and a situation in which high energy prices continue to make transportation, food, production and other basic economic activities increasingly expensive.
The group also demanded greater transparency in the pricing of petrol, including the costs of crude oil, refining, importation, transportation, margins, taxes and other charges that contribute to the pump price.
HURIWA said Nigerians should be able to understand what drives the price they pay at filling stations and what specific steps the government is taking to reduce the burden.
The organisation welcomed the reported expansion of CNG conversion centres and alternative-energy transportation programmes, but warned against presenting them as a comprehensive solution to Nigeria’s economic difficulties.
“A CNG bus can reduce the fare paid by a passenger on one route; it cannot by itself reduce the cost of feeding a family, operating a factory, transporting farm produce or powering thousands of small businesses,” HURIWA said.
The group also expressed concern about the impact of persistent energy costs on manufacturers, saying businesses facing rising production and logistics expenses could be forced to increase prices, cut production or shut down.
It argued that such developments could worsen unemployment, weaken domestic production and increase dependence on imported goods.
HURIWA consequently urged the Federal Government to treat energy-price stability as a national economic issue rather than principally as a transportation problem.
The association called for accelerated development of domestic refining capacity, increased competition in the downstream petroleum sector, transparent pricing and targeted measures to reduce energy costs for manufacturers, farmers, transport operators and households.
It also urged state governments to ensure that transportation subsidies and other interventions actually benefit commuters rather than simply shifting the burden of high operating costs to citizens.
HURIWA called on President Tinubu to convene economic managers, state governments, labour, manufacturers, transport operators and civil society organisations to develop what it described as a sustainable framework for reducing energy and transportation costs.
The organisation said its ultimate objective was to restore the purchasing power of Nigerians, revive domestic production and prevent further pressure on household living standards.
While describing CNG as part of the solution, HURIWA maintained that it should not become a substitute for addressing the broader issues surrounding fuel prices and energy costs.
The group urged the Federal Government to take what it described as decisive action before high energy costs, declining purchasing power and rising production expenses place further pressure on Nigerian households and businesses.
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