By Divine Sam

The Director-General of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Abdulaziz Yari, has defended the recent increase in petrol prices in Nigeria, urging citizens not to place the entire blame on President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Yari argued that Nigeria was not alone in experiencing rising fuel costs, pointing out that Saudi Arabia, one of the world’s leading oil-producing nations, had also increased its petrol prices.

He made the remarks on Monday during the APC presidential campaign rally in Calabar, Cross River State, where he addressed concerns surrounding the rising cost of fuel in the country.

According to him, the recent increase is connected to developments in the international oil market, particularly the rise in crude oil prices, which he said has affected fuel costs in different parts of the world.

He maintained that Nigeria should not be expected to remain unaffected by global market realities simply because it is an oil-producing country.

He said, “Nigeria can’t be an exception, there’s fuel price hike in Saudi Arabia. Even Saudi Arabia, which produces more oil than us, has increased fuel prices, so why should Nigeria be different?”

Yari further explained that petrol prices are influenced by international market conditions and are not determined solely by decisions taken by the Federal Government.

He appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience and give the Tinubu administration time, expressing confidence that the removal of fuel subsidy would deliver long-term benefits to the country.

His comments come amid continued public concerns over the rising cost of living, with higher petrol prices placing additional pressure on transportation, businesses and household expenses across Nigeria.