Nigerians react as fuel price increases to N617 per litre
Story from Kasim Isa MUHAMMAD
Nigeria finds itself in the midst of a brewing storm as fuel prices skyrocket to an unprecedented N617, leaving citizens stunned and anguished.
The news has spread like wildfire across social media platforms, with Nigerians taking to Facebook and Twitter to vent their frustrations and express deep concerns.
Abba Hikima, a passionate lawyer, expressed disappointment on Facebook, reminding the government of its primary responsibility to improve the welfare and livelihoods of the people.
He added, “Failure to fulfill this duty amounts to a failure in governance.”
READ ALSO: Why we increased fuel price to N617 per litre – NNPCL
Malam Ahmed Abacha, joining the chorus of discontent, highlighted the crippling impact of this fuel price surge on the average car owner.
He said with maintenance costs ranging from a staggering 80,000 to 100,000 Naira per month, he lamented, “How can a salary earner making 250,000 Naira per month afford to sustain a household?”
Bello Bala Shagari, another Facebook user, foresaw the dire consequences of removing fuel subsidies, emphasizing, “I knew this would be an uphill battle.”
Nasiru Salisu Zango, a journalist in Kano, said in Hausa, drawing attention to the unfortunate timing of the fuel price hike amid already inflated food prices.
Similarly, Aliyu Dahiru Aliyu pointed fingers at the government’s collection of loans and the removal of fuel subsidies as the root causes behind this unprecedented increase.
Neptune Prime, seeking a broader perspective, conducted interviews with concerned citizens in Yobe State.
Mukhar Aliyu from Damaturu pleaded for urgent government intervention, as many struggle to put food on the table, let alone bear the burden of exorbitant fuel prices.
Ibrahim Isa, a victim of the price surge, revealed that he has been forced to abandon his car and resort to a motorcycle due to the unaffordable fuel costs.
As Neptune Prime’s report unfolds, the situation looks dire. Petrol prices at Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited-operated filling stations in Damaturu have skyrocketed from N577/litre to an astounding N617/litre. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributes this sudden spike to the elusive ‘market forces.’
Also, oil marketers predict that petrol prices could soar even higher, surpassing N700 per litre in the northern region and hovering around N600 in Lagos once independent marketers start importing the product from July onwards.
It could be recalled that President Bola Tinubu previously wrote to the House of Representatives, requesting an amendment to the 2023 supplementary appropriation act in order to allocate N500 billion for the provision of assistance to Nigerians.