By Omoyeni Ojeifo
Residents and motorists across Abuja are groaning under renewed financial pressure following another sharp increase in the price of petrol, with the product now selling for between N1,414 and N1,450 per litre in parts of the Federal Capital Territory.
Checks by Persecondnews on Sunday showed that petrol was selling for N1,414 per litre in Lokogoma, an increase of N64 from the previous price of N1,350. The product was even more expensive in Gwarinpa and Dawaki, where residents reported prices of N1,430 and N1,450 per litre, respectively.
Engineer Udoh Sunday described the latest increase as unbearable, saying Nigerians had faced worsening hardship and a relentless rise in the cost of living since the removal of the petrol subsidy.
“They said they removed the subsidy, but wouldn’t it have been better to leave it in place? Since it was removed, things have not remained the same. The prices of everything have continued to rise,” he said.
“Imagine buying petrol at N1,414 per litre. My cousin told me that it is selling for N1,450 in Dawaki. The pain is too much. I don’t know who we have offended, but Nigerians desperately need help.”
For Mrs Ofor, the increase could not have come at a worse time, as many families are already struggling to pay school fees and meet other expenses following the resumption of academic activities.
“I am tired. Our children have just returned to school, and we are struggling to pay their fees. Now, the price of petrol has increased again. How is the ordinary Nigerian expected to survive?” she asked.
Civil servant Ali Saliu said workers were being crushed by rising living costs while their salaries remained stagnant.
“Salaries are not increasing, yet the price of petrol keeps rising and pushing up the cost of everything else. The suffering is becoming unbearable for ordinary Nigerians,” he said.
A taxi driver, Salem Ogbe, said the increase had placed transport operators in a difficult position because they could not continually raise fares without inflicting further hardship on passengers.
“I am tired of this job because there is hardly any profit left. Petrol prices keep increasing, but we cannot raise transport fares every day. We are all human beings, and we understand what passengers are going through,” he said.
Ogbe added that the impact of the latest increase on transportation costs would become clearer when the new working week begins.
A filling station attendant, who requested anonymity, told Persecondnews that some stations were still selling old stock and warned that pump prices could rise further when new supplies are purchased.
The latest increase followed an ₦85 adjustment in Dangote Petroleum Refinery’s gantry price, from N1,265 to N1,350 per litre, representing a 6.7 per cent rise.