Rivers commuters groan over fuel price hike

Residents in Port Harcourt and its environs in Rivers State are expressing frustration over the recent hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, otherwise known as fuel, which has led to an increase in fares.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation’s announcement of a pump price increase on Tuesday amidst a growing fuel scarcity in the country has sparked widespread discontent, with private car owners, commercial drivers, and commuters all sharing their plights in separate interviews with our correspondents.

A private car owner who runs a retail beverage business, who asked to remain anonymous, said, “To be very honest with you, the truth is always the truth, everybody knows what is happening in Nigeria right now, especially the economic situation. It’s affecting not only me but also everybody. What I bought from NTA Road for one litre is N1,300, which is not right. So, I think what we should do is number one, we make sure our refineries start working, because I think our economy is the fuel. If the price of fuel is coming down, definitely every other thing will come down.”

Another respondent who identified himself as Azubuike, a commercial tricycle (Keke) driver, said, “I bought N1,300 per litre and the fuel is not even up to that litre, the reduction and the price increase. So, it affects me a lot that I can’t even feed myself well. Even to pay my house rent, a very small amount but I can’t even pay that amount. Now, I’m a Keke driver, and even the passengers can’t even afford the money that we are telling them to pay. So we don’t know where to start and where to stop.

“I drive from Jorax filling station along NTA Road to that Mobile junction, on East-West Road that leads to Rumuokoro Roundabout . I load from there to that Mobile junction N300, sometimes N250 depending on the way they (passengers) beg me. Before, we charged N150, N200, N100, depending on the distance but the addition now is just N100. We are supposed to take up to N400, N500 but we are sympathising with ourselves.”

Also speaking, Anthony, a commuter who owns an auto repair shop, decried the situation saying, “Without being told, you see the situation of things, everywhere is very dry. See, I’m a mechanic, since morning, I haven’t even worked anything because of the fuel crisis. Since this fuel scarcity started, I know how I have been managing myself. I pay transport N1,000 every day to come to the shop and sit down without doing anything. It’s affecting me seriously.

“I stay at Choba, and pay N500 to my workshop at the NTA Road and N500 back. That’s N1,000 every day. Before this fuel crisis, I used to pay N150, to and fro, N300 but now it’s N1,000, you can check the difference, very much difference.”

On her part, a resident who identified herself as Gift, lamented how the hike had affected her, as she berated the government for its seeming nonchalance towards the plight of the people.

She said, “It has not been easy with the people. Like today, I wanted to go to Rumuola. I was supposed to pay N300 but they are saying N600 from NTA to Rumuola. I didn’t go because I couldn’t afford to go there and come back again with N600. I don’t have that kind of money. I have to stay back.

“The other day, I went to the market. Before we were paying N1,500 but now they said N3,000 to Mbiama market, but I didn’t go because I considered how much I would pay when I carry a load. I considered the amount in my pocket, but I didn’t go. So, the thing is affecting everybody. It has not been easy with everybody.”