NIGERIANS SHOULD PREPARE FOR NEXT LEVEL INCREMENT IN FUEL PRICE
Bismarck Rewane, chief executive officer of Financial Derivatives Company Limited, has asked Nigerians to brace up for an increase in the pump price of petrol. In 2016, the Buhari administration increased a litre of petrol from N87 to N145, sparking criticism among citizens. But making a presentation at the Lagos Business School, Rewane said there were indications that the price of fuel would rise because the government is working towards reducing subsidy payments. He described subsidies as a huge drain on the government’s revenue, adding that the World Bank put Nigeria’s total subsidy bill in 2018 at N731 billion. “A gradual reduction in subsidy payments is anticipated. Only N305bn set aside for under-recovery in 2019 budget; expect an increase in the pump price of fuel,” he said. “Forty per cent shortfall in provision for subsidies (under-recoveries) points to possible price increases. Rewane added that a hike in the price of petrol would result in high inflationary press...