Motorists, commuters groan over fuel price increase

Motorists and commuters in Jos have decried the hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL).

The NNPCL on Monday increased the pump price of PMS from N617 to N897 at its outlets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who went around Jos yesterday observed that major and other marketers were dispensing the product for between N970 and N1100.

While many fuel stations were without the product, NAN observed long queues at the NNPCL Mega Station, Dogon Karfe, NNPCL Station Mararaba Jamaa, and the Mobil Filling Station in Hwolshe, Jos.

A motorist, Ruth Hoke, described the recent increase as the “highest level of insensitivity by the NNPCL and the Federal Government.”

Hoke said Nigerians were undergoing excruciating pain as a result of the current high cost of products and services. Yet, they are now being punished more with another petrol price increase.

She expressed worry that the recent hike in the PMS would cause the prices of goods that were already unaffordable to increase astronomically.

“While salaries and wages remain stagnant, the government keeps increasing the pump price at the detriment of the poor masses,” she said.

A tricycle rider, Michael Joseph, said the government needs to consider the effect of its policies on the masses.

Joseph said many people now prefer trekking to boarding commercial cars or tricycles. According to him, the people who have no choice but to use their services are now being forced to beg for discounts on the fares.

“We need the government to care for the masses because the masses are suffering. If we buy petrol at N1,000 and above, how much are we going to charge a passenger? This is the job we created for ourselves, yet the government is bringing in policies that will put us out of business,” Joseph said.

Another tricyclist, Felix Longji, said he had queued to buy fuel at the Hwolshe Mobil Filling Station on Tuesday at the usual price of N670, only to discover that the product was being dispensed at N920.

Longji said that although the pump price had increased, he had yet to increase his charges out of consideration for the suffering masses.

The tricycle rider appealed to the government to reduce fuel prices to mitigate Nigerians’ sufferings.

A commuter, Mrs Damaris Botson, appealed to the Federal Government to ensure that the country’s refineries are functional.

Botson said Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural resources, which, if properly harnessed, would address the country’s challenges.