Drivers, and passengers have lamented over the hike in the price of fuel known as patrol and transportation costs in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
This came shortly after the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Ltd announced the $6 billion debt owned by the company.
Michael Amadi, a 45-year-old driver, complained about the effect of the hike in fuel on him as a driver that shuttles from Lagos bus to artillery. He told a TCPN reporter that fuel that was sold at N900 per litter was now being sold for N1,100 while NNPC, which was his last resort, has increased their price from N599 to N850. “I surprise to see NNPC. Them don close their fuel station, and them no dey sell, they short em down,” Amadi lamented.
Long Queue Seen at NNPC Fuel Station Located Along Aba Expressway, Photo Credit: TPCN Reporter
Amadi continued to complain, he said, ” Person wey dey work since morning see only money wey dey for my hand. Them dey for radio they shout. My people wey dey shout for the market. Make una give us one month, and tell them to reduce the price. Them no no say na fuel make everything go high. They come dey increase fuel again. E remain small make I begin to go house.”
Fuel Station short down Along Eliozu Road Photo Credit: TPCN
“The fuel station wey dey close to Airforce na em sell N1100. The once wey dey for town don close, na where I come from turn. I buy fule N2500. E be say I hold money I for buy like N5000.”
Explaining further, he told a TPCN reporter that due to the increase in the price of fuel, he is forced to eat snacks of N200 a day.
As I dey drive this motor, God bear me witness. Some days I no dey eat till I go house while sometimes I go eat burns N200 before I go house. See em since morning wet I dey road. You don see em, I don buy fuel tire. If I never buy fuel, I don buy fuel up to N10,000.”
“Where you dey go na N300, you know say fuel na N1100,” he told a passenger who was about to board his taxi. The passenger responded, “Oga na me dey produce the fuel, na N250 each we go pay since we day two.” Mr. Amadi responded with, “Make una dey hundred, I no dey carry,” as he drove off.
Fuel Station Short Down Along Eliozu Motorway, Photo Credit: TCPN Reporter
Philip Johnson, a passenger, commented on how the recent increase in price has affected transportation, fearing that the price of transportation will never be reduced, “E get anything wey don go come later come down. Person no fit buy something for market again. Them close their stations, so that they go hear the order. So that they go sell for high price. No be say them no get fuel, ” he told this reporter.
While speaking to another passenger waiting for a vehicle, Favour Desmond, pointing at the Aba Motorway, Motor no dey,” as she worked away.
An elderly man, a working-class man, narrated the odeal he had during his travels from Rivers State to Owerri State. He further lamented on the cost of things and transportation as he journeyed.
“Yesterday I had N30,000. If say thief dey for my house I for don dey suspect the person say. The money I had has N1000 and N500 for each currency. I put em for my back pocket. I dey spend for anything I need. When I counted the money just to go to Owerri I come back here, N30,000 don reduce to N11,000. Since I dey for house, I dey think wether the money lost for road. We can’t continue like this,” he spoke with a resonated voice.
Long Queue Seen at Mobile Fuel Station located at Garrison, Photo Credit: TPCN Reporter
While speaking with this reporter, he explained that the economy was not friending as he recounted his expenses within the state, “From Rumuodara now to Air force I don spend N300 and from Air force to where I dey go, I go spend N300 again that is N600. The problem is not drivers but the voters. God go provide for those wey no vote for the current president.”
TPCN reporter observed that at different points within the state capital, passengers were seen waiting for vehicles, several stations were shutdown; others were seen with long queues; and somewhere their gates were open were not selling.
Another passenger noted that it was as a result of the low turnout of the protesters that led to the increase of fuel and food items. Mr. Saviour Adeboye said,”Them they protest some people dey church dey clap hand. Some people say no my brother na senator and Senate president we no go protest. We dey here. Make we dey, dey brother dey go.”
Another driver complains about the substantial price of a local seller known as Black Marketers, which served as an alternative source of getting fuel. Chinoso Clement, a driver, spoke with a loud voice as he yelled at a black marketer, “Something wey I dey buy 2400, you come say na N2800. Commot from here, make I go where I dey buy from. Them come sell me two liters for N2500 for black market. Them carry all the whole problem put inside em fuel, “
Ifeoma Okereke, with a calm voice, said as she looked away, “It is only God; the nation is in trouble. Wahala dey oh. “
