REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE
Some motorists and commuters in Awka , Anambra State have been expressing concern over the sudden hike in the price of a litre of fuel in the area.
According to them the situation is posing serious challenges to the movement of goods and services in the town and other parts of Anambra State.
Radio Nigeria Correspondent Uche Ndeke reports that a liter of fuel is now selling between 1,000 and 1,150 within Awka the State capital.
Over the past two weeks the price of a litre of premium motor spirit commonly known as fuel in Nigeria has increased from 890 to 1,225 in filling stations in Awka.
Though some Oil and Gas experts attributed the development to market forces resulting from global energy crisis occasioned by the Iran – US/Israel war, the situation has started to impact heavily on business transactions in Awka with regards to the delivery of goods and services, human transportation and cost of living.
A community stakeholder in Awka, Ozo Obi Ochije wondered why Nigeria that prides herself as oil production gaint could be easily exposed to changes in the global oil market within a short time
" I think the issue of this fuel is because of corruption in NNPC, because because without corruption, I don't know why only one week of war between other countries will make us an oil producing nation to start buying fuel this high"
For Mr Kingsley Okolie, it is frustrating how petroleum products marketers quickly adjust pump price upwards but will always foot drag when situation calls for downward adjustment of their price metering system.
" The same product that was sold by Saturday morning at 950, was sold after twenty four hours at 1,150 naira, which way Nigeria, very appalling, no consideration for the life of the masses and very wicked of some people. May God help us. "
Another respondent Mr Paul Okolo who described the latest situation as pathetic called on the federal government to urgently find an immediate solution to the problem to reduce the difficulties faced by the people.
" motorists now have to minimize their movement , we don't have proactive action about everything that concerns us in this country, because if you look at everything, we don't have reservoir in this country. "
In an interview, the Chairman Independent Petroleum Markters Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Enugu depot, Mr Chinedu Anyaso explained that though the sharp increase is as a result of the effects of the crises in the Middle East, there is need for the country to redraw it’s plan on energy security so that there would be some mitigation of hardship that confronts the citizens during challenging times.
" Dangote Refineries are the only Refinery in Nigeria at the moment that can refine Premium Motor Spirirt, PMSand they distribute and at the moment what Dangote is selling this product is 995 naira per liter, ex depot price and you know when we buy at the price, we pay loading expenses and equally pay transportation to our various destinations. There is no way your landing cost will not be at close to 1100 naira a liter and you pay other expenses. That is the reason why you observing that people are selling 1150 and 1200 naira as the case maybe , depending on where you are buying. So this actually not the problem of the marketers but the ripple effect of the war in the Middle East"
He however appealed for understanding from Nigerians with the hope that the government would find a way out of the problem.
