By NANA MUSA

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

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that NNPC Retail Management had approved upward review of the pump price of petrol from N895 per litre to N945 per litre, effective from June 23.

At the NNPC retail outlets in Abuja, the pump price increased by N50, while independent marketers also raised prices by between N45 and N60, depending on location and outlet.

Checks by NAN revealed that the NNPC retail stations immediately adjusted their pumps reflecting the new PMS Price of N955 as against N897 per litre.

Following the development, many commercial and personal vehicle owners had parked their cars as they could not afford the cost of fuelling them.

NAN reports that many commuters comprising civil servants were seen stranded at various bus stops, because motorists, who could afford to buy fuel at the new price increased transport fares.

Some motorists, who spoke to NAN, expressed sadness about the situation, while calling on the Federal Government to intervene on the unstable fuel price and the hardship on citizens.

A civil servant, Mr. Mohammed Isa, said that he now resumed work late since the increment as transport fares had increased.

?I have a car but I cannot afford the high cost of fuel. Using commercial vehicle is better now, and so many people are in this condition.

?There are lots of passengers at the bus stop but no vehicles and this is because there is no gain in the business anymore.

?We know it is not the government?s making but it needs to work on the roadmap to resolve the issue and avoid further problems,? Isa said.

Another civil servant, Mrs. Chioma Smith, said that the hardship was too much to bear.

?The hardship is too much. At times, I do not go to work because there is no money for transportation and feeding is even a bigger problem.?

Smith urged the government to rescue the citizens from the situation.

?I believe if the fuel price is stable the cost of goods and services will be stable.

?Whenever you go to the market now to buy food stuff, you will discover the price has increased and it is not supposed to be like this.

?Although, we are experiencing the raining season and food is supposed to be cheap, but it is not so as we speak? she said.

Alhaji Usman Ibrahim, 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.

?The market is unstable and the hardship keeps getting worse daily,? Ibrahim said.

A taxi driver, Lasisi Gbenga said that things were so complicated presently, as drivers were battling with high cost of petrol and food.

?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.

?I hear that workers? salaries have not been increased as promised, so we also need to be considerate.

?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.

?This increment is affecting everything, foodstuffs have increased, even my landlord has increased his rent.

?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,? Gbenga said.

A Bolt and Uber driver, Uche Eze, said that the harsh economic situation had increased, occasioned by the high cost of fuel.

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

?People are not requesting for ride, they prefer going to the bus stop, 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.?

Mrs. Chioma Nnemeka, a retired civil servant also urged the government to boost 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 expensive anymore.

?I hear that PMS conversion to CNG is expensive, the government need to make it affordable to all, I believe with this life will be a bit easier.

?I also urge the government to implement the minimum wage for civil servants and retirees as the hardship tells more on them.

?I am a widow, my children and I cannot feed, pay school fees or make other payments,? Nnemeka said.

A vegetable seller in Wuse market, Alice Jones, said that the last goods supplied her had over N50,000 increase, and she was experiencing low patronage.

?I am so worried, vegetable is not the kind of goods you can keep for a long time, now people are not buying because the price is high and I don?t blame them.

?If this my goods perish, I will stop selling because I borrowed money to add for the additional payment, how did we get here,? she said. (NAN)

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