There is anger and frustration among Nigerians over the latest increment in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, by the federal government.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail stations on Wednesday raised the price of petrol to N1,030 from N897/litre in Abuja, and in Lagos, it was hiked to N998/litre from N868/litre. Other locations witnessed similar price hikes, a development that triggered anger among residents of the country, including Osun State.
In Osogbo the state capital, the product is sold between N1,064 to N1,200 as at the time of filing this report yesterday, causing an immediate hike in the price of transportation, food and other essential commodities, while in other parts of the state
OSUN DEFENDER also noticed a resurgence of fuel queues, especially at retail outlets belonging to major marketers, across the state.
Findings by the medium further revealed the petrol price hike has conditioned commercial transporters to hike fares.
At the Aregbe Park yesterday, Osogbo to Ibadan is now N4,000 from the N3,500 it went for on Tuesday. Commuters also travelling from Osogbo to Ondo and Ore, Osogbo to Lagos, will now pay between N6,000 and N7,000, among others.
READ: NNPC Increases Petrol Price To N1,030/Litre
The situation is also reflecting in the price of food items and essential needs, which is always the trend whenever there is a rise in the price of PMS.
A civil servant, Mr. Alade Busayo who spoke to OSUN DEFENDER at Al-Fajr filling station, Ogo-Oluwa, Osogbo, yesterday, carpeted the federal government over what he described as a deliberate attempt to make life unbearable for the people.
Busayo who said he had dropped his vehicle at home for the last six months, said he had to get fuel for his generator because of his wife who put to bed on Monday.
He said, “I have a car. But I have not been able to use it for over six months. It is at home. I earn less than N80,000 and my wife is a private school teacher whose salary is not up to N40,000. So, I cannot use 80% of my salary to fill my tank.
“I had to come here today to get fuel because I cannot afford the Band A Electricity bill which has consumed over N20,000 already this month. I have to switch off most appliances, so as not to pay more. That is why I augment with fuel in the night.
“My wife gave birth three days ago and she has to keep warm due to the cold weather. That is why we need fuel because we cannot afford to buy electricity for another N40,000 this month if we want to feed. Life is just too tough for us. The government should help us.”
Also, a businesswoman, Mrs Deborah Omolayo alluded to Mr. Alade’s position.
READ: OBSERVATION: NNPCL Has Outlived Its Usefulness
Omolayo, who runs a frozen food told OSUN DEFENDER that the hike in transportation fares has led to an adjustment in the price of her goods.
She explained that, “I used to get some of my goods at an affordable rate. In the last one year, it has been hell for some of us with two or three businesses. Apart from the huge transportation costs, we have also had to battle with the hike in electricity tariff, commodity hike and all.
“I went to the market today and what happened was just alarming. I bought a keg of groundnut oil for N25,000 last week for my fried potatoes business. Today (Wednesday), I bought it for over N29,000. I don’t know what would happen next week. It is a hard time for us as a country. The government really needs to come to the aid of the masses,” Omolayo emphasised.
A commercial motorcyclist, Dare Ejidiran wants the resignation of the management of NNPCL if they cannot address the situation head-on.
Ejidiran also called on President Bola Tinubu to expose all the gladiators in the oil sector who are contributing to the daily hardship experienced by Nigerians.
He sought the recalibration of the industry, so as to pave way for more indigenous operators in the downstream sector, especially refining to address the gaps highlighted over the years.
