By NANA MUSA-UMAR

Many motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed frustration over increase in the pump price of petrol.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPC Retail Management has approved upward review of the pump price of petrol from N617 per litre to N897 litre, effective from Sept. 3.

This is amid economic hardship and persistent fuel scarcity.

Checks by NAN revealed that the NNPC retail stations immediately adjusted their pumps and totems (price boards), reflecting the new PMS price of N897 as against N617 per litre.

The Independent marketers have also adjusted their pumps as they are now selling between N930 and N1,200.

Following the development, many commercial vehicles were off the roads as operators queued at the few filling stations selling the product.

Many stations at Apo, Kubwa express way, and airport road were not selling while long queues were seen at the few selling.

NAN reports that many commuters comprising civil servants were seen stranded at various bus stops, while motorists, who could afford to buy fuel from the black-market increase transport fares.

The motorists, who spoke to NAN expressed sadness about the situation, while calling for the Federal Government’s intervention on the persistent fuel scarcity and hardship on citizens.

Alhaji Abdulaziz Isah, a businessman said the removal of the fuel subsidy with no proper plans in place had affected the oil and gas sector as well as the nation’s economy.

“The dollars keep going high and it makes it difficult for the importers and marketers to buy petrol, this is because they need to sell as they buy to make their profit.

“If the government is not ready to make a lasting policy, they should bring back the subsidy as a lot of citizens are suffering.” Isah said.

A civil servant, Mr Aloze Ojo, said he had been in the filling station since 7 a.m. and he was yet to get fuel.

“We know it is not the government’s making but it should work on the roadmap to avoid any further problem.

“The hardship is too much, at times, I cannot go to work because there is no money for transportation and feeding is a bigger problem.”

A taxi driver, Olusegun Ade said that things were so complicated presently, as they were battling with high cost of petrol and scarcity.

“I run at a loss now, this is because I buy at a high cost and if I increase the transportation, some passengers may not be able to afford it.

“My family depends on my daily returns, and it has not been easy meeting up and with the latest increase I do not know what to do.

“I am begging our president to do something fast on the suffering of Nigerians as it is not easy for a lot of us please,” Ade said.

Mrs Rita Uka, a retired civil servant also urged the government to hasten its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) project across the country to boost utilisation of CNG vehicles to crash transport fares.

She said that over dependence on PMS was literally making it a scarce product, adding that when CNG becomes common, with its affordability and infrastructure nationwide, PMS would not be scarce anymore.

A Bolt and Uber driver, Mrs Alice Uzo said that the harsh economic situation had increased occasioned by the lack of fuel as well as its high cost.

She said that there was no more profit in the business as she had been driving at a loss just to sustain her means of livelihood.

“I think I will just go home and sleep because this will be very hard, where are we going to? The president needs to do something urgently.”

NAN correspondent, who monitored the City Centre and suburbs on Tuesday, observed that black marketers were making brisk business selling between N1, 500 and N2,000 per litre. (NAN)

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