Actor Kunle Remi has expressed concern over the rising cost of fuel in Nigeria, saying the situation is becoming difficult for many citizens.
In a post on Instagram on Wednesday, Remi said he has often avoided political discussions but now believes it is no longer wise to stay silent given the country’s current challenges.
He described the rising cost of petrol and ongoing power outages as unbearable for ordinary Nigerians, noting that the cost of running generators has become increasingly hard to manage.
“I don’t even know how to begin this conversation. Usually, I say things like, I don’t get involved in politics. I don’t talk about politics. In fact, the country, the industry, a couple of things, make you, they’ll tell you don’t discuss religion or politics or something, and so you fall into that category where you say I don’t like to talk politics. No, that’s the most stupid statement from anybody in Nigeria right now. We should be discussing, talking about it and trying to fix it. We should be inquiring about what is happening in the nation. There’s nothing like sitting on the fence. Now it doesn’t make any sense,” he stated.
Remi also questioned why global oil market issues are having such a strong impact on Nigeria despite its status as an oil producing country.
“Today, I bought fuel, petrol. I bought petrol for one thousand three hundred and something thousand naira. We don’t have light. I don’t understand why Nigeria is one of the first countries to be affected by the war in Iran. A blessed nation, a country that is a resourceful nation, is complaining about fuel price because we are dependent on one refinery, and even the refineries never got the full support of the government, and then the nation has different refineries that don’t function. I don’t understand. I’m blown away because I’m mentally stressed, and I can’t even lie. So you don’t have light.
“A couple of my staff are letting me understand that to even come to work now is a problem because the transport is hiking, meaning that their salary is not even enough anymore in a very short period,” he added.
Nigeria has in recent months experienced a steady increase in fuel prices following subsidy removal and ongoing changes in the oil sector. The situation has led to higher transportation costs, rising prices of goods and services, and continued reliance on generators due to unstable electricity supply.
Remi is not alone in raising concerns. Veteran actor Pete Edochie has previously spoken about the hardship faced by Nigerians, while filmmaker Kunle Afolayan has also highlighted the impact of fuel and power costs on businesses.
