Governor’s UK price comparison draws outrage from citizens, opposition party and labour unionists
Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo is facing widespread public criticism after he said Nigerians should be grateful that petrol sells for between N1,400 and N1,500 per litre, because the same quantity costs more than N3,000 in the United Kingdom.
Okpebholo made the remarks at the “Operation Rescue Benin-Asaba Road” event in Edo State. He said he recently visited London, bought petrol to compare prices, and found that after converting from pounds to naira, a litre cost over N3,000.
The comments come amid continued public concern over the cost of petrol and other essentials following the removal of the fuel subsidy. Petrol currently sells for between N400 and N1,500 per litre, depending on location.
“Plane taking off” defence
The governor defended the Federal Government’s economic reforms, acknowledging they were difficult but insisting they would eventually pay off. He compared the process to an aircraft in flight.
“When a plane is taking off, do you see them serving food?” he asked, adding that Nigeria would “very soon” reach cruising level. He also told his audience that Aso Rock is “not vacant,” a reference to President Bola Tinubu’s hold on the presidency.
Social media reaction
Nigerians responded swiftly online, with many questioning why he compared fuel prices without considering wages in both countries. Several users noted that Nigeria is a crude oil producer while the UK is an importer. Others said the comparison ignored the gap in purchasing power between the two countries.
Opposition demands resignation
The Allied Peoples Movement (APM) called for Okpebholo’s resignation, describing his comments as “reckless and irresponsible.” In a statement, National Publicity Secretary Abubakar Yusuf said the governor ignored differences in income and living conditions.
According to the party, an average UK wage earner receives about £2,636 (roughly N4.6 million) monthly, while Nigeria’s minimum wage stands at N70,000. It added that a UK schoolteacher’s starting salary of about £2,839 (roughly N4.9 million) far outstrips what a Nigerian teacher earns. The party also contrasted Nigeria’s informal and costly public transport with the regulated, subsidised system in Britain.
The APM further noted that in other oil-producing countries such as Libya and Iran, petrol sells for the equivalent of N41 to N52 per litre. It warned that the governor’s remarks could provoke protests and unrest, and suggested they might be a test ground for justifying another price increase. The party urged Nigerians to use the 2027 presidential election to vote for new leadership.
Labour reacts
Labour unionist Abayomi Idowu called the comments “highly insensitive and provocative,” saying they reflected the thinking of the ruling APC. He argued that a Nigerian minimum wage earner’s annual pay does not match one month’s minimum wage in the UK.
“I can’t find any basis for that comparison,” he said, adding that politicians who do not pay for fuel, food or rent themselves are disconnected from the hardship ordinary citizens face.
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