Economy
RESIDENTS have decried the hike in pump priceand long queues that resurfaced in filling stations in Akure and major towns in Ondo State shortly after the inauguration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Monday.
President Tinubu had during his inauguration speech had said that there was no going back on the removal of fuel subsidy, but rather the funds shall be re-channel into better investment in public infrastructure.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that shortly after the inauguration address queues resurfaced at filling stations in the state capital, Akure and places like Ikare and Owo.
By Tuesday morning the situation at filling stations had worsened with long queues of motorist creating multiple lines at the few filling stations selling the commodity, thus causing traffic snarls on the affected highways.
An investigation by NAN revealed that some of the filling stations selling fuel had increased their pump price from N220 per litre to N280 while some sold at N300.
In an interview with NAN, Mr Tunde Femi, a taxi driver, frowned at the development, saying the president’s inaugural speech touching on removal of fuel subsidy led to the immediate hike in pump price and hoarding of the commodity by some petroleum marketers.
The taxi driver, who said that he had been looking for where to buy fuel at the cost N220 for over two hours, called on the state government and petroleum regulatory bodies to find quick solution to the situation so as not to cause hardship for the masses.
“I am highly surprised about what happened since yesterday because it not supposed to be that filling stations will stop selling fuel while some have arbitrarily increased the price.
“As at two days ago, major marketers sold fuel at official price of N195 per litre while independent marketers sold at N220, but immediately after the inauguration speech, some filling stations increased the price between N250 and N300,’’ he said.
Also, Mr Ariyo Osadare, a hotelier, decried the long queue of motorists at filling stations, saying the pronouncement of President Tinubu about removal of fuel subsidy should not cause the petroleum marketers to hoard their fuel.
“If at all the fuel subsidy was removed, most of filling stations are not helping matter because I was at on filling station when he suddenly stop selling saying fuel has finished.
“The fuel I bought yesterday was N230 per litre but this morning is N250. But if the fuel subsidy removal is for the benefit of the masses, I am 100 per cent in support,” he said.
Mr Moses Lawrence, an Aluminum fabricator, appealed to filling stations to support the new government for it to achieve the benefit of fuel subsidy removal.
According to him, it may be difficult at the start, but all will be well if government can sincerely do what they promised about the subsidy removal.
“As far as I am concerned, if government can fulfill what they intend to do, I believe it will be a good thing for all Nigerians,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Mufutau Balogun in Ikare-Akoko, Akoko North East Local Government Area of the state told NAN that only one filling station was selling fuel out of numerous in the town.
“As at this morning, I bought at the rate of N250 per liter while only one filling station is selling at Ikare now and one other station between Ikare-Akoko and Ogbagi-Akoko.
“Other filling stations are locked and the situation has started affecting the masses, but if the fuel subsidy removal will make things work well in our country, I believe we will all smile as government promised at the end of the whole thing,” he said.
However, a manager in one of the filling station on the Airport Road, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State, who refused to mention her name, said that the price increase was on the order of the management.
“For now, we are selling at N250 per litre although we sold at N220 on Sunday and I cannot confirm to you the reason for the change,” the manager said. (NAN)
A.
Tags: Mr Ariyo Osadare Mr Moses Lawrence Mr Mufutau Balogun
