Protesters against the increase in the pump price of petroleum products chanted anti-government slogans, yesterday, in parts of Ilorin, Kwara State, and prevented vehicular movement.
 
Pan-Yoruba socio-cultural and socio-political organisation, Afenifere, had on Wednesday, called on the Federal Government to stick to the claim by the Minister of State for Petroleum, Heineken Lokpobiri, that President Bola Tinubu’s administration did not instruct the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) to increase the fuel pump price, by ordering the corporation to reverse the announced increment.
 
According to The Guardian investigation, the protest rocked Oloje area of Ilorin West Local Council, where people trooped out chanting anti-government songs and obstructing vehicular movement.
 
Our correspondent gathered that commuters plying the area were seen trekking long distances, as operators of commercial tricycles were prevented from carrying passengers.
 
Other areas affected by the protests were Oko-Olowo and Sango.
 
The Guardian further observed that commercial bus operators were forced to discharge their passengers who also joined the trekkers.
 
Meanwhile, there was a dearth of commercial vehicles in Ilorin metropolis since Wednesday.

Residents told our reporter that this was occasioned by the increase in the price of petrol from N580 to N897. Independent marketers sold the product between N950 and N1,300.
 
Citizens, especially Tinubu’s supporters, have been expressing disappointment over the development.
   
An official of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in the state, Kunle Sanni, charged the presidency to halt “flamboyant lifestyle while masses are being pushed into deeper poverty.”
   
The state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Adetoun Ejire-Adeyemi, urged the protesters to shelve it and use more civil ways in lodging their complaints.

IN a statement signed by the spokesman, Jare Ajayi, Afenifere asserted that Nigerians were going through a lot of challenges as a result of the hike
 
“It is, therefore, a wrong time to come up with any policy that will increase the undesirable challenges Nigerians are going through presently. Failure by the NNPCL to reverse the latest increment in fuel price will rub off negatively on some policies of the Tinubu administration to ease things for the citizens. Policies such as the Students Loan Scheme and Consumer Credit Scheme that are just taking off,” he said.