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Motorists in Anambra in tears as fuel hits N1,400 per litre
Motorists and commuters in Anambra State are groaning over the increase in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit otherwise known as petrol.
Our correspondent who monitored petrol situations and motor parks in major cities across the state, on Saturday, gathered that a litre of petrol sold for N1,400 in Onitsha, N1,300 in Nnewi, N1,300 in Ekwulobia and N1,200 in some parts of Awka.
Most petrol stations visited in these cities sold the product from N1,200 upward, except Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited which sold less.
Although the NNPCL petrol stations were not currently dispensing, they had long queues of vehicles waiting for them.
A filling station manager at the NNPCL in Awka, who pleaded anonymity, said they were not dispensing because they had run out of stock and waiting for supply.
“We are not currently dispensing at the moment because we have run out of stock and waiting for a new supply. Most of the vehicles you see in the queues have been there for over three days.
“We did not sell for some days because we had to wait for a directive on the new pump price. And when the directive came, we had to adjust our meter to reflect the new price.
“We were selling between N780 and 820 and when the directive came, we adjusted to N920, although, the price fluctuates. Our action depends on the signals we get, it is not by our making,” he said.
As a result of the development, transportation fares have continued to soar by as much as over 50 per cent daily, thereby leaving commuters to restrict their movements to certain areas.
For instance, movement from Onitsha to Awka which used to be N1,000 is now N1,600, and Upper Iweka to Oba which used to be N500 now goes for above N700. Likewise, every other route has been increased significantly.
Checks by our correspondent also showed that the development has impacted negatively on the prices of communities, especially foodstuffs as food vendors have also continued to hike their prices on the excuse of “high cost of transportation”.
A commercial bus driver, Mr Okey Udo, who plies the Onitsha-Nnewi routes, said, “The fuel situation is making life unbearable for us as we now spend most of our income on buying fuel. As a result of this, most of us have resorted to operating only during peak hours to quickly recoup the money we spend on fuel.
“This is because passengers are no longer on the roads as it used to be because most people have reduced their movement while some have resorted to trekking. Drivers are now working for filling station owners and spare parts dealers, from the little we make a day.”
A resident of Nnewi, Mr Nkechi Udeh, who trekked a long distance from Triangle Roundabout to the local secretariat, said before the latest fuel hike, tricycle operators were collecting N200, but now raised the fare to N400.
“I have resorted to trekking to work at the secretariat in order not to be stranded since I am still very fit and strong. If not for the dangers, I would have used my bicycle for the movement. But you know, it is a very busy road, and riding a bicycle on such a road is not advisable.
“A lot of people are now trekking to their various destinations. I don’t blame them, the current economic hardship is telling on everyone, the government should please, do something to help the masses.”
A commuter in Awka, Ifeoma Uzor, said, “This fuel situation is gradually getting out of hand and regrettably, those concerned are just watching. This is a shame for a country.
“I am at the park at Aroma Junction in Awka, to board a commercial vehicle going to Nnewi. It used to be N1,200, but today, it’s almost N1,800. Look at the suffering the common man is passing through in the country while our leaders don’t show empathy.”
… better than oil and drug peddling
Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State on Saturday disclosed that arrested Finland-based self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa “has continued kidnapping for ransom.
Soludo said kidnapping is currently a business that is more lucrative than drugs and oil.
The governor who spoke in Awka, the state capital, said before he became governor, eight local government areas in the state were being controlled by gunmen.
Soludo also recalled how his father was kidnapped in 2009.
He said: “Kidnapping is not new, my father had been kidnapped as far back as 2009. GU Okeke, Pokobros and many others have fallen victim too.
“Before I assumed office, about eight local government areas were being controlled by gunmen.
“They killed policemen and collected guns, attacked and burnt down police stations and went into the bush to label themselves liberators.
We came in and went to work and cleared them and we recovered the eight local government areas that were under siege. These gangs claim to be Biafra freedom fighters. IPOB has dissociated themselves from it, but one Simon Ekpa has continued kidnapping for ransom.
“Kidnapping for ransom is now the most lucrative enterprise, even more lucrative than drugs and oil. For every one naira reported as payment for ransom, five to six naira was not reported.
“With a culture that celebrates wealth without craft, even the kidnappers amongst us are now celebrated. Idolatry which these criminals have converted to have become the fastest growing religion in the South-East. Nothing is sacred to them anymore.”
Ex-governor of Anambra State and presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2023 general election, Mr Peter Obi has protested the level of hardship faced by the poor in Nigeria.
The former governor spoke during a visit to the Archbishop Province on the Niger and Bishop of Awka Diocese of Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, His Grace Alexander Ibezim.
He said: “The hardship in Nigeria is too much, how can the ordinary people survive. The woman who sells pepper by the road side has to pay huge charges to get her own money. How much is her profit margin and how much will remain after paying charges?
“No country is run like that. Don’t bother to interview me on that, I will write officially to the President on this and state all these things.
“These (POS Charges) is too much, no country is run like this,” Obi told journalists who approached him to speak on the matter.
Delta State Governor, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has commiserated with the Ibru family of Agbarha-Otor in Ughelli North Local Government Area of the State on the death of their wife and mother, Mrs. Edna Ibru.
Mrs Ibru, who reportedly died after a brief illness, was the wife of late Olorogun Senator Felix Ovuodoroye Ibru, first Executive Governor of Delta State.
A former Miss Nigeria, Mrs Ibru in 1964, died in London after a brief illness on Wednesday.
In a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Sir Festus Ahon, the governor described the demise of Mrs Ibru as sad and painful, adding that she was a loving wife and mother who supported her husband and family in all his noble endeavours.
He said, “On behalf of the government and people of Delta, I mourn the passing of a great woman of substance, a caring mother and loving wife, Mrs Edna Ibru.
“The news of her death came to me as a shock, especially now that the family members needed her motherly and wise counsel.
“She was a woman of faith who devoted her time in supporting her husband’s political career which culminated in his election as the first Executive Governor of Delta State.”
Oborevwori prayed to God to accept the soul of the deceased and grant fortitude to the family and friends she left to bear the loss.
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