Port Harcourt Motorists Threaten To Hike Fares Over New Fuel Price

Some motorists in Port Harcourt have said they will be forced to increase transportation fare in order to make profit to take care of their families following the increase in the pump price on Wednesday.

They expressed their concern with respect to how the increase in the fuel price will affect their business when THE WHILSTER interviewed some of them in Port Harcourt.

THE WHILSTER went around the city to monitor some filling stations around the Trans Amadi – Slaughter Axis and observed that they were selling petrol at N160 per litre.

Recall that the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Rivers State Chapter had directed it’s members to sell petrol between N161 and N163 a litre.

According to Mr. Bosco Uchendu, a motorist who plies Slaughter to Garrison road, the increment has already started bringing him low income.

He further explained that “The increase in fuel price has really affected my business in such a way that we are buying fuel at a higher price and I am now getting low income. There is a tendency that there will be a hike in the transport fare because we have to make profit at least since we are not the cause of the increment in pump price.

“We have been charging N100 from Slaughter to Garrison since the fuel price was about 86 Naira. Now, the price is almost double that amount and we are still charging N100,/. It’s telling on us negatively”.

Another taxi driver, Mr. Matthew, also complained about loss. He said motorists were still recovering from the previous increase in price from N123-N150 before Wednesday’s hike.

“I believe that nobody is happy about the increase in fuel price. We are facing a very difficult time right now and as you can see, we are still trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic. Now, the government has increased the price in fuel for the second time when we were still adjusting to N150 per litre. This will create more hardship among the poor masses. We intend increasing the price so as to make some profit after our Union meeting tomorrow.” he said.