The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) has challenged Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo’s comparison of petrol prices in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, arguing that pump prices cannot be meaningfully compared without considering differences in income and purchasing power.
The party’s National Publicity Secretary, Abubakar Yusuf, made the position known in a statement following Okpebholo’s recent remarks that Nigerians were “doing very well” because petrol is more expensive in the UK.
According to the APM, focusing only on the converted price of petrol overlooks the economic realities facing Nigerian households, including lower wages and the rising cost of transportation and other essential goods.
The party said the governor’s comparison failed to reflect the disparity between the earnings and purchasing power of workers in both countries. It also contrasted Nigeria’s transport system with that of the UK, arguing that commuters in Nigeria face different costs and challenges.
The APM further criticised the continued increase in petrol prices, saying the development was adding to the financial pressure on Nigerians.
The party consequently called for Okpebholo’s resignation over his comments and warned against using international fuel prices as a justification for further increases in Nigeria.
The controversy follows Okpebholo’s September 24 remarks at an event in Edo State, where he said petrol in the UK costs more than N3,000 per litre after conversion and argued that Nigerians were paying less at home.
The APM also linked the debate to the broader economic impact of rising petrol prices, coming amid renewed cost-of-living concerns in Nigeria. Recent reporting has noted that petrol prices have climbed to around N1,400–N1,500 per litre in parts of the country.
