Many motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have cried out over increase in the pump price of petrol.
The NNPC Retail Management approved upward review of the pump price of petrol from N617 to N897 per litre, effective from Sept. 3.
This is amid economic hardship and persistent fuel scarcity.
Checks revealed that the NNPC retail stations immediately adjusted their pumps and totems (price boards), reflecting the new PMS price of N897 as against N617 per litre.
The independent marketers have also adjusted their pumps as they are now selling between N930 and N1,200.
Following the development, many commercial vehicles were off the roads as operators queued at the few filling stations selling the product.
Many stations at Apo, Kubwa Express way, airport road were not selling while long queues were seen at the few selling.
Many commuters comprising civil servants were seen stranded at various bus stops, while motorists, who could afford to buy fuel from the black market increase transport fares.
The motorists, expressed sadness about the situation, while calling for the Federal Government’s intervention on the persistent fuel scarcity and hardship on citizens.
Alhaji Abdulaziz Isah, a businessman said the removal of the fuel subsidy with no proper plans in place had affected the oil and gas sector as well as the nation’s economy.
Said Isah: “The dollars keep going high and it makes it difficult for the importers and marketers to buy petrol, this is because they need to sell as they buy to make their profit.
“If the government is not ready to make a lasting policy they should bring back the subsidy as a lot of citizens are suffering”.
Mr. Aloze Ojo, a civil servant, said he had been in the filling station since 7:00 a.m, and he was yet to get fuel.
Stated he: “We know it is not the government’s making but it should work on the roadmap to avoid any further problem.
“The hardship is too much, at times, I cannot go to work because there is no money for transportation and feeding is a bigger problem”.
Olusegun Ade, a taxi driver, said that things were so complicated presently, as they were battling with high cost of petrol and scarcity.
Cried he: “I run at a loss now, this is because I buy at a high cost and if I increase the transportation, some passengers may not be able to afford it.
“My family depends on my daily returns and it has not been easy meeting up and with the latest increase I do not know what to do.
“I am begging our president to do something fast on the suffering of Nigerians as it is not easy for a lot of us please”.
Mrs. Rita Uka, a retired civil servant also urged the government to hasten its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project across the country to boost utilisation of CNG vehicles to crash transport fares.
She said that over dependence on PMS was literally making it a scarce product, adding that when CNG becomes common, with its affordability and infrastructure nationwide, PMS would not be scarce anymore.
Mrs Alice Uzo, an Uber driver, said that the harsh economic situation had increased occasioned by the lack of fuel as well as its high cost.
She said that there was no more profit in the business as she had been driving at a loss just to sustain her means of livelihood.
Said she: “I think I will just go home and sleep because this will be very hard; where are we going to? The president needs to do something urgently”.
black marketers were observed on Tuesday making brisk business selling between N1,500 and N2,000 per litre.
