Price Of Kerosene Rises By N175 Per Cent

The price of Kerosene has risen by about 175 percent in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A survey of some major filling stations in Port Harcourt on Tuesday showed that a litre of kerosene now sells for between N165 and N180.

At the black market, a four-litre jerry can is sold for N1,300 while the 20-litre jerry can goes for N4,800.

Prospective buyers spend several hours on long queues at filling stations before getting the product.

Mrs. Amaka Nlerum, a petty trader, said that the rise in the price of kerosene was inflicting much pains on her family.

“Kerosene is a very important product needed by many families, it is not supposed to be this costly.

“People are crying for money to buy food, now the little we have is being spent buying kerosene,” Nlerum said.

Mrs. Kehinde Abdulazeez called on the government to check the rising price of the product.

“We cannot afford to buy cooking gas, so kerosene is what we use to cook and do other things in the homes.

“It is an essential product that should be kept within the reach of the ordinary people,” she said.

Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, Group General Manager, Public Affairs Division in NNPC told NAN on phone that that there was enough kerosene in stock.

“NNPC has enough kerosene in stock and we are appealing to major and Independent marketers to ensure effective distribution to end users.

“We have told them several times to ensure that petroleum products are taken from NNPC depot to the end users to end the scarcity of the Kerosene.

“Marketers are the ones causing artificial scarcity to hike the price of the product,” Ajuonuma said.