Many Imolites are lamenting how the rising price of fuel (petrol) is creating ripple effects on the cost of other essential needs, such as food, transportation, and clothing, among others.
According to Ndiigboworldwide, the product was sold for between N350 and N400 per liter, as opposed to the official pump price of N185.
The development has brought untold hardship to residents, who are now appealing to the relevant authorities to address the problem.
A foodstuff seller at Eke-Ukwu Owerri Market, Ogechi Iwu, Said that she watched her customers grapple with escalating prices over the past months.
"Rice, garri, onions, noodles—everything has risen in price." "Some have more than doubled; others have jumped by various percentages due to the high cost of transportation caused by the fuel hike," she said.
Some motorists narrated how filling stations within the state have continued to hoard the products, making the situation tougher for residents.
A commercial bus driver, Chijioke Aneke, said black market operators around Egbu Road, among others, hawk and dangle the product at almost every corner at a very high price.
"One liter of petrol is sold for as much as N600," he lamented.
A commercial taxi driver, Emeka Chijindu, said the hike in fare was completely inevitable, stressing, "We buy petrol at N350 per liter, and some places, N400 per liter."
He said new tires that were N7,000 are now N35, 000. I can go on. "If we don’t increase transport fares, it’s simple, pure business suicide."
He said they were more concerned about the availability of fuel for purchase than the price increase.
"We are all managing to survive." We feel commuters’ pains, but we can’t help it. "It's the country we found ourselves in," he said.
Other residents took a serious swipe at the federal government, accusing it of plunging Nigerians into abject poverty.
Chizy Onyeocha, a student of Alvan Ikoku College of Education, expressed dissatisfaction regarding the hike in fuel pump price, stating that "after ASUU went on strike, which affected all public universities, we are now faced with fuel prices and scarcity; how are students expected to survive?"
She condemned the sharp increment in petrol prices, saying it’s another devastating moment for the welfare of Nigerian students, which in turn affects their academic activities.
She said, "I live a bit far from the school, around Akwakuma Junction, but before I can get to school, I need to take a bus of N150, which was initially N50. It now costs nothing less than N300 a day. "I don’t have any more savings," she lamented.
Also, a mass communication student at Imo State University, Daniel Chukwuyere, said some students are selective in attending lectures since the cost of transportation is becoming unbearable and they have no option.
Chukwuyere urged the government to do something about it before it gets out of hand.
A trader, Ngozi Okwara, grumbled that the situation led to a hike in the cost of transportation.
She explained that "from Akwakuma Bus Stop to the new market was N100." Now, we pay N200. To bring the goods back to my shop with a drop from the bush market used to cost me about N3,500 to N5,500 some months ago. "Now, I pay as much as N8,500 for the same quantity of goods."
She further said, "When we complain, the drivers blame it on the increase in fuel price." To recoup what I spent bringing the goods from the market, I adjusted the prices of my wares as well. "I slightly increased the price of every item so that I can make a profit."
Reacting to the ugly development, the Imo State Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Dr. Chidiebere Okoroafor, who spoke through the phone, said it’s a national issue that is not peculiar to Imo State alone.
While appealing for calm, he said, "Everybody should take things easy; let’s see how we can manage the situation in a few months’ time."
"I appeal to the FG to ensure our refineries come back." They have promised us several times that they will start functioning soon, and once the refineries are functional, all this anomaly will stop.
"I’m speaking to you from Abuja; you need to see the queue because it’s not something that has to do with Imo State alone." These people have promised us that they will bring in more products and that supply will improve; let’s see how it goes. It’s not a permanent situation. I want to use this platform to appeal to the Imo people to please endure for a while.
News Source: Daily Post
