By Cajetan Mmuta
Motorists and residents of the five states in the Southeast geo-political zone of the country have cried out to the relevant authorities for help over unbearable and sharp hike in the price per litre of petrol in the states.
A litre of petrol which initially sold at between N450 to N500 in Imo state is now N250 per litre; in Awka the Anambra state capital and adjoining towns of Nnewi, Onitsha and Ihiala a litre of fuel sells at N220 while in Enugu and Ebonyi states, the product sells at N220 and N180 respectively.
Sadly, the situation has become worse as prices of foodstuff and other essential things have gone up with more than one hundred per cent increase.
A cup of beans now costs N140 as against N125, a tuber of yam is from N400 to N800 for small size tubers while frozen sells for N1, 500 as against N1000 for medium sizes.
In addition, transport fares have taken an astronomical rise as passengers groan on daily basis.
A study by ThisNigeria shows that journeys to short distant areas in all the affected states that were at N50 are now N100 while areas that are charged at N100 for long distant location is presently between N150 to N200 in Enugu and Ebonyi states.
For instance, transport fare from Okpodi town to Afikpo that initially costs N500 is presently N700.
The situation seems worse in Awka town as commercial bus drivers plying Eke Awka to Ifite/Unizik main campus which costs N100 is now between N450 and N500.
Also, transporters have taken the ugly development to exploit passengers even as they increase their fares to various distant locations.
Findings revealed that from Onitsha to Owerri is now N1, 500 as against N1, 000 while Onitsha to Benin City, Edo state is N2,000 and Agbor N1000.
Further checks showed that from Awka to Enugu which was N500 is now N1,000 while to Onitsha is N500 as against the initial N300.
Most motorists have withdrawn from plying some of the roads due to the sharp increase and deplorable state of Awka link roads which are dotted with deep potholes since the rainy season.
Meanwhile, the leadership of the National Union of Petroleum Tanker Drivers (NUPENG) have resolved to wade in the controversy and to lift the sanctions imposed on states in the South East region following a disagreement over parking space at the Onitsha bridgehead in Anambra State.
A three-day meeting between the Anambra State delegation led by the Hon. Peter Nwosu, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Willie Obiano and Hon. Afam Mbanefo, Commissioner for Transport and those of leadership of NUPENG was held in Abuja.
The parley was aimed at prevailing on members or Union to lift the sanction it imposed on the South-East zone.
Members of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD in Imo State had embarked on strike following a disagreement with the Imo State Government, a development which also compelled the national leadership of the Union to further sanction states in the South East.
According to the union, no Petroleum Tanker would deliver Petroleum products to filling stations in all the states in South East.
Speaking on the development Hon. Nwosu described as heartwarming the move by the PTD and NUPENG to shift their earlier position on the impasse.
Part of the resolutions reached at the end of the meeting in Abuja was that Anambra State Government should provide a Trailer Park for Petroleum Tanker Drivers.
The National Leadership of PTD/NUPENG noted that the recent accident in Onitsha was avoidable had the State Government granted its demands for a Petroleum Tanker Park.
He assured the people of the state that the government is working round the clock towards ensuring total lifting of the sanction which has caused a lot of hardship on residents of the state and the rest of the South-East zone.
He also commended Hon. Afam Mbanefo, Anambra Commissioner for Transport and Comrade Peter Modebelu, the NUPENG Port Harcourt Zone for their support to ensure that Anambra State gets the needed result.
