Fuel price hike is devastating — Abakaliki residents

Some Abakaliki Residents have described the recent fuel price by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL), as suffocating as they could no longer afford their basic need.

In separate interviews with our reporter on Friday they said the development was having negative impact on the citizenry.

Recall that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per litre now sells at between N879 and N 1, 200 depending on the location across the country.

Mr Princewill Oji, a civil servant told NAN that families could no longer afford their daily meals and other basic need.

Oji said the current price if not checked would worsen the already struggling production sector of the economy.

Another civil servant, Mr Peter Ogbonna, described the increase on price of fuel as hardest moment for citizens.

“Our naira is devalued, purchasing power is very low and then this `harassment` of the public by this current price. It is devastating,”Ogbonna said

An agric expert, Rosemary Nwojiji, advised authorities and the Federal Government to explore the rehabilitation of refineries to ensure regular petrol supply at affordable prices.

“The impact is devastating because it is affecting transportation, cost of living and purchasing power,” Nwojiji said.

Mrs Jennifer Uguru, another resident, called on government to recognise the fact that any action that negatively affects the petroleum industry affects all sectors of the economy.

“The cost of transportation has doubled; this is disturbing,” Uguru said.

She pleaded with the Federal Government and management of petroleum industry to do the needful and ameliorate the plight of citizens.

Mr Chidiebere Elom, a commercial tricycle rider, said that many of the businesses could no longer cope following the current increase in the price of fuel.

Elom urged government to have the political will to control or regulate price of the product and reduce the hardship Nigerians were passing through.