5th September, 2024
By Ayorinde Oluokun with NAN report
Vice-President Kashim Shettima on Thursday summoned the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, and the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mele Kyari, to Aso Rock over the recent increase in price of petrol.
The meeting is coming as the hike in petrol price has continued to generate outrage and condemnations from cross section of Nigerians nationwide.
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, the National Security Adviser and top aides of Shettima are also attending the meeting.
The NNPCL had on Tuesday jacked up the price of petrol to between N855 and N897 per litre, depending on the part of the country from the previous N568-N617.
Also, some independent marketers have adjusted their prices to between N930 and N1,200 per litre of petrol.
The increase in petrol price has resulted in about 50 per cent rise in cost of transportation across the country.
In Niger State, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) and the Tricycle Owners Association of Nigeria (TOAN) confirmed that they have increased transport fares due to the sharp rise in the price of petrol.
Malam Ibrahim Musa, Chairman of NURTW Branch III, Abdulsalami Abubakar Garage, Minna, stated that the fare from Minna to Abuja has been raised from N6,000 to N7,000.
Similarly, he said that the fare for Minna to Kaduna has increased from N6,500 to N8,000.
“We have raised the transport fare from Minna to Abuja by N1,000, and from Minna to Kaduna by N1,500. This is not an attempt to exploit passengers, but a necessary response to the recent hike in fuel prices and the increased cost of vehicle parts,” Musa said.
He further noted that fares from Minna to Zuba and Diko now stand at N4,000 and N3,500, respectively, up from N3,500 and N3,000.
Musa appealed to both the Federal and State governments to urgently address the rising costs affecting the transport sector before operators are forced out of business.
Similarly, Abubakar Ndanusa, Chairman of TOAN in Niger, highlighted the burden of higher fuel costs and the rising price of tricycles.
“The price of a new tricycle has skyrocketed to between N3.2 million and N3.5 million. Many of us are on hire purchase agreements, making the cost even higher.
“We have no choice but to increase fares by N50 to N100 per drop, depending on the distance,” he said.
He also noted a decline in passenger numbers, as many people now limit their travel to essential trips due to the current economic conditions.
A visit to several petrol stations in Minna revealed that the price of PMS had risen sharply, with NNPCL affiliate stations selling fuel at N897 per litre, up from N617 per litre earlier.
Danladi Maku, a supervisor at Matrix Filling Station, City-gate Minna, confirmed that fuel prices had surged from N820 to N950 per litre. At Shafa Filling Station, prices had also jumped from N860 to N950 per litre.
Meanwhile, black market sellers near NNPCL mega stations have raised their prices as well, with petrol now being sold at N1,200 per litre, compared to the previous N1,100.
Both NURTW and TOAN urged the government to intervene and support the transport sector to prevent a total collapse, as the escalating costs continue to strain operators and passengers alike.
The Nigeria Labour Congress and Trade Union Congress have condemned the price increase while demanding immediate reversal.
With NAN Report
