By Shakirudeen Bankole
Barely 24 hours after the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) announced a new increment in price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), independent marketers across Lagos State have already adjusted their pump price.
The Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of NNPC, on Thursday, ordered the increase in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit, the price at which the product is sold to marketers at the depots, to N155.17 per litre from N147.67 per litre.
The development literarily translates to about N7 to N8 hike in fuel pump price per litre, a development many described as ill-timing.
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When our correspondent went round town, Saturday, all the Filling Stations in Ojo, Igando, Ikotun, Akowonjo, Alimosho, Iyana Ipaja and environs, have already adjusted their pump price to N170 or N171 per litre.
The development has equally ignited a trickle down effect on transport fare, as commercial buses have also jerked up their fares.
Distance that usually costs N100 before is now being charged for N150 or N200 and in some instances, transport fare went from N50 to N100 or N150, as the case maybe.
This reporter experienced the hike himself, by riding on some commercial buses, and paying for the increased fare.
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On one of the trips, he asked the driver the cause of the sudden increment, and here is the account of the conversation that ensued thereafter.
“Sey you no hear sey petrol don cost,” he replied in Broken English, saying “at that Omolad Filling Station (located at Ikotun), dey don increase per litre to N170.”
The driver, who simply identified himself as Austine Ejakpor, plies Ikotun and Iyana-Ibaja.
He used to charge N100 or N150, but has adjusted the fare to N250 to N300.
“This country don tire person, I swear,” he lamented further, saying he used to struggle to get commuters pay the former fares, and don’t know how to get them to pay the new fares.
“The country hard, sincerely. People they suffer. And me self understand. Before I get this bus wey I dey drive, it was heal,” he added.
One of the commuters, who simply identified herself as Mr. Ajibade corroborated Ejakpo’s position while speaking with The New Diplomat.
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“Our government are not considerate at all,” he alleged, explaining that “why would they increase the price of petrol at this challenging time when the masses are struggling to survive, economically. It is not fair,” he added.
Another commuter, Mr. Jato Akosile, said “it is annoying that while other developed countries are talking about bailing their citizen out of the economic hardship imposed by the COVID 19 pandemic, our own decide to take delight in strangulating us to death.”
