‘More burden on Nigerians’: Motorists, commuters lament petrol price hike

Motorists and commuters, on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, lamented the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) retail stations across the country had on Tuesday, September 3, increased the pump price of petrol from N617 per litre to N897 litre.

The federal government later said no directive was issued to the NNPCL to increase the price of petrol.

Prices of petrol tripled since the removal of subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023, from about N200/litre to about N800/litre, compounding the woes of Nigerians who power their vehicles and generating sets with petrol, no thanks to decades-long epileptic electricity supply.

Motorists and commuters in Kano, however, said the review was uncalled for considering the economic hardship and persistent fuel scarcity in the country.

They said the federal government should think of ways to alleviate the hardship and not put more burden on Nigerians.

Check reveals that fuel stations in Gwale, Kumbosto, Fagge, Dala, Tauroni, and Nasarawa Local Government Areas of Kano State adjusted their pump prices from the previous range of N950 to N1,000 per litre.

A resident of Gwale, Mohammad Ibrahim, said he could no longer afford to buy petrol for his car and generator.

Ibrahim said: “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.”

NLC demands immediate reversal of petrol, electricity tariff hike

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.

A resident of France Road, Moses Joseph, expressed concern about the sudden increase in the pump price of petrol, adding that the increase is hurting the citizens

Joseph said the prices of commodities have skyrocketed, with some items increasing by 200 per cent.

He cited the example of sachet water which has risen from N200 to N450, 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.

The Star