4th September, 2024
By Edeki Igafe
Tricycle operators popularly called “Keke” on Wednesday barricaded the Deco junction in Warri South Local Government Area of Delta, to protest the hike in fuel pump price.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPC Retail Management has approved an upward review of the pump price of petrol from N617 per litre to N897 litre, effective from Sept. 3.
The protesters marched from the Enerhen junction to Deco junction to register their grievance over the hike and its perceived scarcity
They converged as early as 6:00 a.m. at the Enerhen junction to kick start the protest and marched to block the Deco junction calling on the government to intervene urgently.
NAN reports that the Deco junction served as a connecting route to Enerhen junction, Hausa quarters and Okumagba Avenue.
Heavily armed policemen and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were also on ground to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
NAN reports that business activities in the area were grounded for several hours including heavy vehicular gridlock and man-hour loss.
One of the protesters, Mr Omatseye Esijolomi, condemned the astronomical hike in the price of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise called petrol.
“We buy petrol from the black market between N1, 400 and N1, 500. This has led to an increase in the transport fare and it is affecting our work.
“We are also paying a community levy, settling police and Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) daily,” Esijolomi lamented.
