Oredola Adeola

The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued a directive to the administration of President Bola Tinubu to regulate the prices of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol), Diesel, Kerosene, and Liquified Petroleum Gas (cooking gas), along with other essential goods, within seven days, in response to the soaring costs and concerns over the impact on the populace.

Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, in an order on Wednesday,gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit No FHC/L/CS/869/2023, filed by Mr. Femi Falana, human rights activist, against the Price Control Board and Lateef Fagbemi, Attorney-General of the Federation, listed as the first and second defendants.

The Judge also instructed the administration to fix the price of petroleum products, including diesel, Premium Motor Spirit and kerosene.

He further ordered the prices of milk, flour, salt, sugar, bicycles, and their spare parts, matches, motorcycles and their spare parts, motor vehicles and their spare parts should also be regulated and fixed.

Advisors Reports gathered that Mr. Falana approached the court to determine whether by virtue of Section 4 of the Price Control Act., the first respondent is carrying out its duty to impose a price on any goods that are of the kind specified in the First Schedule to the Price Control Act.

The plaintiff in his plea said, “A declaration that the failure or refusal of the respondents to fix the prices of bicycles and spare parts; flour; matches; milk; motorcycles and spare parts; motor vehicles and spare parts; salt; sugar and petroleum products including diesel, petrol motor spirit, and kerosene is illegal as it offends the provision of Section 4 of the Price Control Act, Cap., Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004,”

Mr. Falana informed the court that the motion on notice was premised on Section 4 (1) of the Price Control Act, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.