The pains of a New Year ‘gift’
Motorists, commuters groan under Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Authority (PPPRA)-induced fuel hike
LIKE the Biblical thief in the night, the fuel subsidy removal came on New Year Day with its concomitant implications on the socio-economic life of Nigerians.If the sudden upward review of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, was soaked in the New Year celebration on Sunday, the spectre has begun to show its fangs.
What with apprehensive motorists out in search of filling stations willing to sell, commuters stranded at bus stops, available commercial buses raising fares as much as 100 per cent, the pain is endless.
In Ipaja area of Alimosho Local Council in Lagos, a fare that was N50, commuters now payN70, while most filling stations in the area sell a litre of Petrol for N140.
A conductor who simply gave his name as Ikechukwu told The Guardian, they now buy a litre of petrol for N140 and it became obvious that it was the commuters that would bear the cost
“On the first day of the year, we could work because most of the petrol stations were locked. But today (yesterday), we were able to get fuel but at N140 and for us to meet up our target we had to increase the fare. Initially a trip from Ipaja to Iyana Ipaja that used to attract N70 now goes for N100. If we don’t do this, we cannot meet up our target,” he said.
A commuter, Innocent Andrew, said the government had finally done its worst by taking away the only thing Nigerians enjoyed, adding that: “It is now clear that this government does not mean well for Nigerians because if it meant well, it would not go ahead with the subsidy removal despite the overwhelming campaign against the idea,” he said.
Andrew, an executive in a financial institution, added, the hardship would become obvious when work resumes all over the country after the holiday. ...Read More...
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