Some stranded commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on Wednesday narrated unpleasant experiences they were going through, following hike in the pump price of petrol. In separate interviews in Abuja, the commuters said the price increase had worsened the sufferings they were passing through for months, with shortage of the product.
This is coming after the Retail Management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited on Tuesday approved upward review of the pump price of petrol from N568/N617 per litre to N855/N897 per litre, depending on location of their stations.
Checks revealed that the NNPC retail stations adjusted their pumps and totems (price boards), reflecting the new price of N897 as against N617 per lite in the FCT. The independent marketers had also adjusted their pumps, as they were now selling between N930 and N1,200.
Meanwhile, there had been scarcity of fuel in the territory in the last two months with motorists enduring long queue to buy the product. Following the announcement of the hike in price, queues at the few filling stations dispensing the product worsened.
Miss Amina Yusuf, a clerk in a private firm, said: “ Yesterday, I paid N1, 000 from my house in Gudu to Garki where I work, only to leave my office and realise the fare had increased by 50 per cent.
“I stood for hours at the Phototech junction waiting for vehicle to go back, because the fare had been increased to N1,500.
“I had to beg other commuters who helped me out. One gave me N300 while the other added N200, before I could leave the bus stop. It was a harrowing experience, because I hate begging, but I had no choice,’’ she said.
Yusuf said she had to source fund from an online loan platform before coming to the office in the morning, because her employer would not take excuse for absence or else she would get sacked.
“My salary is just N60,000 in a month. With this development, it is even not enough for transportation,’’ she lamented.
Another commuter, Mr Kingsley Okoye, said that the fare hike had burdened his finances.
Okoye said: “From Apo to Gudu, we were paying N250 fare, but I was charged N400, this morning. I had to look for where to make a withdrawal and get more cash so I would not get stranded at work.
“This situation is unbearable. The government is not looking at the suffering of Nigerians; they are only concerned with policies and regulations, which do not favour us,’’ she said.
Mrs Jennifer Fabian said she used to spend N200 from Nyanya to the city centre until the fuel subsidy removal when the fare was increased to N600.
She said that with the new increase in fuel price, the transport cost increased to N1, 200, which was very high compared to her income.
“This increase will definitely trickle down to affect virtually everything in the economy, especially the cost of food, which is already high.
“President Bola Tinubu should review the policies because Nigerians are suffering.
Commercial drivers interviewed by NAN, said they had no choice than to increase fare to cover their cost. A driver, Mr Paulinus Eze, said: “We cannot run at a loss. As we speak, most filling stations are not even selling fuel yet, and the ones that are selling have adjusted their prices.
“NIPCO, where I usually buy fuel, has increased its price from N640 to N945, and I heard AYA Shafa is selling at N880 instead of N700. It is not our fault. We have to increase the price so that we can remain in business. We also have family members to take care of’’ Eze said.
Joseph Adamu, Paul Olarenwaju and Edeh Thomas, all commercial drivers corroborated Eze’s position in justifying the increased fare.
Adamu called on the federal government to intervene and take measures to bring the pump price down and address huger and sufferings of the masses.
Transport fare hike leaves commuters stranded
Some commuters in Gwagwalada Area Council were left stranded at various bus stops on Wednesday due to a sudden increase in transport fares. A correspondent who visited some parks and bus stops in Gwagwalada reported that some drivers were unwilling to work, while those who were willing had increased their prices. Residents were left stranded, and some could not afford the new fares.
Mr Solomon Akanbi, a civil servant, expressed his shock at the increase, saying he used to pay N1,000 from SDP junction to secretariat but was now being charged between N1,400 and N1,500.
“I came out this morning expecting an increase of N200 from my bus stop to secretariat but was shocked when I was told that fares was N1,500, this means N500 additional. I do not know how one will survive this constant increase in all goods and services in this country.
“You find out that things keep increasing including taxes but the salary to meet these needs remain the same. How will I pay this amount in one month, what will be left of my salary after the payment and my office does not have staff bus,” he said.
He called on the Nigeria Labour Congress to intervene and assist Nigerian workers.
Miss Peace Achibong, a University of Abuja student, said the new increase in transport fares from Gwagwalada to the university gate was too exorbitant for students. She considered seeking accommodation close to the campus to reduce costs.
Mr Chibuzor Agbakwuru, a trader, said the new fares made it difficult for him to commute from Gwagwalada to his shop in Area 10. He expressed frustration with the country’s economy and called on the government to address the issues.
Mr Suleiman Yakubu, a driver, said he could not afford to buy fuel from black marketers and had decided not to work.
“We are not finding it easy likewise commuters, prices of all route has increased before from Gwagwalada to Nyanya goes for N1,500 but as at this morning is now N2, 000. Also, from Gwagwalada to Lugbe is now N1, 000 as against N700, Gwagwalada to Area 1 is now N1,500 as against N1,000, Gwagwalada to Kaduna road is now N1, 200 as against N800.
“As fuel price keeps increasing, we will have no choice but to increase our prices. This morning many passengers have to go back home because of the increase in prices,” he said.
He pleaded with the government to find a solution to the fuel shortage and price increases.
Warri: Tricycle operators protest over petrol price hike
Meanwhile, tricycle operators popularly called “Keke” on Wednesday barricaded the Deco junction in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta State to protest the hike in fuel pump price. The protesters marched from the Enerhen junction to Deco junction to register their grievance over the hike and its perceived scarcity They converged as early as 6:00 a.m at the Enerhen junction to kick start the protest, and marched to block the Deco junction calling on the government to intervene urgently.
Deco junction served as a connecting route to Enerhen junction, Hausa quarters and Okumagba Avenue. Heavily armed policemen and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also on ground to forestall any breakdown of law and order. Business activities in the area were grounded for several hours including heavy vehicular gridlock and man-hour loss.
One of the protesters, Mr Omatseye Esijolomi, condemned the astronomical hike in the price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol.
“We buy petrol from the black market between N1, 400 and N1, 500. This has led to an increase in the transport fare and it is affecting our work. We are also paying a community levy, settling police and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) daily.
“We won’t have issues with that if the money is going into the government. We are suffering; the government should bring down the price of petrol and make the product available to Nigerians. The price is killing, we can no longer close our mouth, that is why we are crying out to the government,” he said.
Mr Monday Asuquo said that the peaceful protest was to the benefit of the masses. According to him, the cost of transportation has increased astronomically and to the disadvantage of the commuters.
“We are embarking on the protest on behalf of the masses. We need the government to do the needful because people are passing through stress. Government should consider the masses and come to their aid. We need urgent intervention. Schools are resuming next week and things are increasing,” he said.
Mr Efe Odeya said that the commercial tricycle riders pay levies to the government and also renew their papers as and when due.
“We do not have anything against the government. They should reduce the price of fuel, that’s all. We are begging the government to come to our aid. We have the right to protest, so they should do the needful so that we work and take care of our families,” Odeya said.
Most petroleum marketers sell petrol between N1,000 and N1,200 in Warri and Effurun areas. Roadside sellers popularly called black marketers sell between N1, 400 and N1, 500 per litre.
The development had consequently triggered astronomical increases in transportation fare within the metropolis and inter-state. Few vehicles were seen at the various motor parks on the popular Airport Junction in Uvwie Local Government probably due to the difficulty in getting the product.
When contacted, SP Bright Edafe, the spokesman of the Police Command in Delta, said that he had not been briefed on the development.
Kano: Motorists, commuters groan over fuel price hike
Motorists and commuters in Kano metropolitan, on Wednesday lamented the hike in the pump price of Petrol. The motorists and commuters told NAN that the review was uncalled for considering the economic hardship and persistent fuel scarcity in the country.
They said that the Federal Government should think of ways to alleviate the hardship and not put more burden on Nigerians.
Checks reveal that fuel stations in Gwale, Kumbosto, Fagge, Dala, Tauroni and Nasarawa Local Government Areas adjusted their pump prices from the previous range of N950 to N1, 000 per litre.
Alhaji Mohammad Ibrahim, a resident of Gwale, said that he could no longer afford to buy petrol for his car and generator.
“I am parking my car until further notice and adjusting my lifestyle to cope with the economic hardship. I have a large family of 14 members and I have to provide for them because they rely on me for their daily needs,’’ he said.
Another motorist in Tauroni, said he witnessed the price adjustment firsthand, as the fuel attendant increased the pump price from N950 to N1, 400 per litre.
NNPC Mega stations have also increased their prices from N750 to N950 per litre across all their stations, with long queues of vehicles waiting to purchase the product.
Mr Moses Joseph, a resident of France Road, expressed concern about the sudden increase in pump price of petrol, adding that the increase is hurting the citizens Joseph said that the prices of commodities have skyrocketed, with some items increasing by 200 per cent.
He cited the example of sachet water (pure water) which has risen from ₦200 to ₦450, depending on the company.
Joseph lamented the lack of price control, stating that traders have the freedom to set their own prices for products based on what they pay to producers.
“The price hike has a ripple effect on transportation costs, with commercial tricycle operators increasing their fares by 200 per cent depending on the distance,“he said.
He expressed concern over the unregulated prices of commodities across markets and the resulting hardship on citizens.