By Fatimah Idera
Following the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited repeated increases in the prices of the Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, across its outlets, even after an initial increment earlier the year, some Nigerians have expressed displeasure over the way and manner the perennial upward reviews in prices of the product have dealt with them, especially after the NNPC decided to terminate its exclusive purchase agreement with Dangote Refinery.
In a statement, the NNPCL tried to convince a disappointed populace that prices of fuel in its outlets increased once more according to the forces of demand and supply.
The statement read: “NNPC Limited wishes to inform our esteemed customers that we have adjusted our pump prices of PMS across our retail outlets, in line with current market realities.As we strive to provide you with the quality service for which we are known, it is pertinent to note that prices will continue to fluctuate to reflect market dynamics.”
IIt would be recalled that petrol pump prices rose to N998 and N1,030 per litre at various outlets of the NNPC in Lagos and Abuja, respectively.
It is noteworthy that the pump price of petrol surged astronomically since President Bola Tinubu came into the office in May 2023, following the outright removal of subsidy on the product.
Specifically, it moved from N195 per litre before the President assumed office on May 29, 2023 to N1,030 per litre, October 9, 2024, as it currently stands.
Since then, hopes have been dashed as Nigerians in anticipation of the Dangote Refinery commencement of operation were eager to expect reduction in fuel price, but in a twist, increments took the center stage as sellers and buyers continue to lament.
In sampling opinions of a cross section of people, especially those resident in Lagos, those concerned voiced their feelings about the latest development which is now affecting majority of Nigerians negatively. Bolanle Shittu, a woman in her mid-fifties selling pepper at Ikorodu market revealed to The Pinnacle Times how the fuel price had affected her and her household as well as her goods.
“I couldn’t afford to buy my pepper in large quantities unlike before, whenever the fuel price increases everything increases as well because almost everything is being transported with petrol in this country. I had little or no sales daily due to this country’s hardship and I couldn’t feed my children,” she revealed.
The widow further explained in tears how the nonchalant attitude of the government and NNPCL in determining the pump price had led her children becoming beggars on the streets of Lagos.
Ikenna Chinozo who owns a boutique shop at Idumota Lagos, lamented how the increase in fuel price had affected his cloth business as he now finds it hard to cope and feed his family.
“During this Tinubu regime, the pump price has been changed more than thrice and we don’t even know where we are heading in this country yet. Now I had stopped my children’s education because I couldn’t afford it.To feed alone is very hard in this current Nigeria,” he revealed.
Speaking to Bello Aliyah, a market woman at Oshodi market in Lagos felt dejected when this reporter approached her and met her just thinking about the economic hardship as it affects her sales
She reacted by saying, “The government is not even considerate of us anymore, especially we that are struggling to survive in this country, they just go on and on to inflate the pump price of fuel without citizens’ consideration.
“We hope and plead with the government to be more lenient when making policies that concern Nigerians”.
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