The Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF) has cautioned the Federal Government against taking the patience of Nigerians for granted in view of the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as petrol.

President General of the forum, Yerima Shettima while reacting to the increase said, “It is now becoming clearer that the present government may have lost touch with the reality on ground.”

Shettima said, “For the same government that appealed to Nigerians not to embark on protest with the promise to make life better, to all of a sudden wake up to add to the pains of her people, is rather unfortunate.”

He added, “Even the blind can see the hard situation, and the deaf can also hear that the poverty and absolute hunger in the country is unbelievable, and now to add to it is certainly high level of insensitivity and must be addressed accordingly.

“Today, prices of food stuffs is no longer within the reach of an ordinary Nigerian, and it is now clear that the increase in minimum wage to N70,000 is nothing but a deceit because with the reality on ground it cannot meet the needs of one person talk more of a family and now the said money can barely cover for their transportation to the workplaces in a month.

“For me, the Federal government should have a rethink on the numerous challenges. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu must allow Nigerians to breathe, because with the situation of things now, angry and hungry Nigerians are further being pushed to the wall and the reaction of an hungry and angry person may be unimaginable”.

Shettima therefore called on the government whose primary responsibility is welfare and wellbeing of her citizens to live up to their responsibilities and let Nigerians feel the positive impact of the renewed hope agenda by making life and living better for Nigerians.

“The sudden increase in price of petrol has already created a multiplying effect on prices of not only foodstuffs, but in several other areas such as transportation among others,” he said.

He therefore urged the federal government to urgently do the needful about the fuel hike to avoid revolt from Nigerians, and as a matter of urgency, give the wellbeing and welfare of Nigerians a priority.