Petrol Price Hike: Nigerians Cry Out, Says Govt ‘Inflicting Hardship On Us’

…IPMAN Directs Marketers To Effect Price Change To N170 Per Litre

Following the recent increase in fuel price, Nigerians have decried the adverse impact the increase would have on the cost of living for citizens across the nation.

They said that the Federal Government through the policy is inflicting untold hardship on the citizens.

The increase in the pump price of petrol to N170 per litre was directed by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria following the increase in ex-depot price of Petrol from N147.67 to N155.17 per litre made by Petroleum Products Marketing Company(PPMC).

PPMC in an internal memo referenced PPMC/C/MK/003, dated November 11, 2020, and signed by Tijjani Ali, said that the increase would be effective on Friday, 13th November 2020.

Paul Inusa, A Taxi driver in the FCT, in a chat with THE WHISTLER said, “We are crying for inflation and this increase is coming up again, the government should have known that if the price of fuel goes up, it affects the price of other things.

“Even the idea of the government being the sole importer of the petrol product is not good for the economy. They import and sell to filling station at the price they deem fit, and they increase the price at any time they feel like thereby inflicting unnecessary hardship on the common man that is working hard to meet up his needs.

“Although I have not bought fuel at the increased price, but whenever I do, it will reflect on the price I charge my passengers.

“I can’t be buying fuel for N170 and still be charging the same amount, that will make me incur loss.”

Nigerians commenting on the development on Twitter handles said;

@donchia “We are in the middle of a pandemic, inflation is high, prices of commodities are at their highest, and salaries are low. Then, you choose to increase fuel price, which further heightens the prices of everything. This government does not have the interest of the common man at heart.”

@MyInfo67793168 said “Nigeria is gradually sinking every second. How can a government still increase fuel price at this critical moment we are facing in the country.”

@Kings_CEO said ”The target is to get to a price that Dangote refinery can sell at with profit and that won’t be less then N200 since according to them, it costs around N180 to refine a litre”.

@Olocienice said “Dear @MBuhari no doubt that I am one of your great supporter but the policy that backs the monthly increase in the price of PMS is inhumane, some of us work without getting paid in our State, yet we buy fuel to go to work daily”.

@OdunibosiT said, “All this rise in the price of everything is depressing, now fuel price increases again. Let us be ready for another hike in the price of foodstuffs.”

Meanwhile, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Kano branch has directed its members across the state to sell Premium Motor Spirit from N168 to N170 per litre.

The Chairman of IPMAN Kano branch, Bashir Dan-Mallam, while addressing the press on Friday said that the association heeded to PPMC advice for the upward review of the pump price of petrol as contained in the circular.

“I call on all our members within our branch to immediately change the price of their litres from N160 per litre to between N168 and N170 per litre.

”This development came after we received a circular from PPMC, advising us on the upward review of the price after it reviewed the market fundamentals gorgeous the month of November 2020.

He assured the public of the association’s commitment to ensure steady fuel supply across the state and beyond.