Long queue of motorist at petrol stationÂ
By Akeem Atoyebi
Transport fares within Lagos, Abuja, the federal capital territory and Port Harcourt metropolis have doubled, following the unofficial increment in the pump price of PMS from 617 per litre to 897 naira
Recall that in the last few weeks, the country has faced fuel scarcity with the product selling between N700 and N900 per litre in different parts of the country, as NNPC Ltd blamed the shortage on financial constraints and backlog of $6billion debt owed petrol suppliers.
In Abuja, the federal capital territory, petrol is being sold between N1200 and N1300 per liter. While in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, fuel is currently being sold between N1,080 and N1,300 depending on the filling station, while NNPC Ltd’s mega stations are dispensing at N855 per litre with extremely long queues. In Lagos metropolis, the price ranges between N850 to N1200.
The hike in fuel price has led to a 100 percent increase in public transport fare as the shortest distance hitherto charged N100 by commercial drivers in Port Harcourt is now N200, while in Lagos the price has also doubled in many areas. Abuja is also not left out.
For example transport fare from Wuse to Bwari which was N1000 is now N1500, Berger to Pape that used to be N500 is now N800, Wuse to Dutse which was N500 has been increased to N1000 and from Airport junction to federal secretariat that used to cost N500 is now N1000 Same for taxis, a drop of a short distance of 10 kilometres that used to be N2500 is now N4500.
In Lagos, from Ogba to Berger that used to cost N200 is now N350, while from Ishaga to Ogba that used to go for N300 is now N500.
From Choba to Rumuola is now N1200,100 percent increment from hitherto N600; similarly, Choba to Mile III hitherto charged N400 is now N800; Rumuokoro to Choba is now N800 up from N400; Rumuokoro to Mile 1 is now N800 up from N400, Airforce junction to Mile 1 is now N600 up from N300.
Reacting on the development while speaking to NATIONAL WAVES correspondent, an energy expert, Dr.Olufemi Omoyele, attributed the fuel price hike to high importation costs, with NNPCL facing debts from purchasing PMS at about N1,300 per liter from the international market.
Although the federal government denied issuing a directive to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) for the price adjustment, Omoyele said major marketers and NNPC Retail outlets were already instructed to adjust their meter prices upward
