Motorists and residents of Awka, the Anambra State capital Thursday expressed anger and condemnations over the purported sudden and sharp increase in the pump price of petrol from initial N175 to N212 per lire of petrol by the federal government.
They described the development as outrageous, wicked and one that would put millions of poor masses in worst state in the face of the present biting economic realities.
Already, motorists have jacked up their fares with about 50 percent increase for short distance locations within the capital town of Awka.
As at the time of writing this report all the filling stations have in the early hours of Friday morning adjusted their meters to the new pump price as announced by the Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA).
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Most residents of the state capital, especially, motorists were shocked on hearing the reports about the new pump price of petrol just as they battle helplessly to buy the product as most petrol closed for business in order to adjust their meters.
Commuters were also stranded as commercial bus drivers including tricycle operators quickly increased their fare from N50 to N100 per drop to short distant areas.
The transport fare charged by commercial bus drivers from Awka to Onitsha which initially cost N300 is now N500.
Majority of workers, market women and traders were forced to trek to their offices and business location die to sharp hike in fares.
Long stretch of queues were witnessed at s ome filling stations but the situation later subsided after some hours as normal u returned to various areas due to availability of petrol product.
Investigations showed that apart from the increase in fares by commercial drovers, the chaos created by the hike in price per litre of petrol had led to arbitrary increase in prices of food items and other essential products but traders in Eke, Awka, Nkwo Amaenyi and other markets within the town.
Speaking on the development, Mr. Jude Okoye, a commercial tricycle operator said, “We don’t know where we are heading this time; this wickedness in the highest order.
How can one reconcile this at a time we were for help to come following the initial N175 per litre the federal government again without regard to the poor condition of the masses without looking back imposed this new price again on us. We are doomed!!!”
Mr. Chukwudi Justice, a public servant, noted that the increase in the price per litre of petrol smacked of “insensitivity on the part of our leaders who have not sympathy for the citizens. They lack vision and direction. How can workers cope in the face of emerging biting economic realities; how is my take home and how do one make ends meet with this ugly development. We now live from hand to mouth and an even save for tomorrow for our children.”
On her part, Mrs. Dora Nwaokoye who lamented the situation described it as “outrageous and too sad to endure” for a country that produces oil yet “lives like a porter eating with broken pieces of clay pot”.
She tasked the federal government to look onwards, compare Nigeria with other developing countries and “find ways to come of her present woods” in the overall interest of her citizens.
