By Our Reporter, 20th July, 2023

Association of Independent Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (AINPN) Ondo State Council has decried high cost of publishing occasioned by the hike in fuel as a result of the removal of fuel subsidy while asking President Tinubu led Federal Government to change strategy.

In a Press Statement signed by the association President, Prince Adefemi Ojopagogo admonished President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to make life more bearable for all and sundry in Nigeria, saying its citizens are lagging in serious pain.

He stated that the recent fuel pump price hike is uncalled for and act of insensitivity to the plight of the masses, adding that the bite is effecting Publishers of Newspaper and magazine in Ondo State.

The President disclosed that grassroots newspaper publishers across Nigeria may be forced to lay off their workers and close operations if the current hardship being experienced by Nigerians especially newspaper publishers as a result of fuel hike is anything to go by.

His words: “cost of printing materials including newsprints, glossy papers, inks etc have been increased geometrically,the prices are constantly being jacked up on daily basis as a result of harsh economic policy of the Federal Government” he averred.

The removal of the oil subsidy is nothing but putting the Cart before the Horse, pointing out that the palliatives being proposed by the Federal Government supposed to have been put in place before the unilateral removal of the oil subsidy.

The life of an average Nigerians is more wretched than rural roads linking rural communities across the federation as the removal of the oil subsidy and additional fuel pump price hike will continue to make the people to be living a life of squaluor and acute impoverishment.

“Nigeria as at today is sitting on a keg of gun powder, people are suffering and they may revolt against the authority concerned if positive steps are not taken to ameliorate their sufferings”, he explained.

” This is an iron fisted administration under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, during his campaigns across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria, he promised to make life more bearable for the people,but Nigerians are under yoke presently; Mr President must do something urgently to redress the situation”, he added.