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Lagos residents react to N151.56k new petrol pump price, want reversal

Per Second NewsSeptember 3, 2020261

By Boye Ajayi

Lagos residents, motorcyclists and motorists have reacted sharply to the

decision of the Federal Government to increase the pump price of petrol to N151.56k, saying it will worsen the economic hardship being faced by Nigerians, particularly the poor.

PerSecondNews recalls that the Federal Government had on September 2 announced an increase in the pump price from N142 per litre to N151. 65k per litre, a development that is currently attracting protest from the citizenry.

Speaking with Per Second News on the development, Mr Joe Agwu, a cvil servant, expressed surprise about the decision of government concerning the new policy on the automated fuel pump price in the country.“The decision is going to create a serious economic hardship for both workers and Nigerians in other sectors of the economy,” he said.

According to him, before the introduction of the policy, motorists have increased transport fares following the outbreak of COVID -19 pandemic.

“How can we now cope with the present situation. Before the new policy on fuel, we were paying N1, 000 to get to Oshodi from Agbado, now that the government has taken that ‘insensitive’ decision, I wonder how much we would be paying now,” he asked.

Mrs Agnes Amuda, a trader who sells food stuff at Kollington Market at Agbado, told Per Second News that by the new pump price increase, the government has succeeded in fueling the rate of inflation in the country.

“Before now, we traders have been paying a fortune to transport our goods from the source of purchase to the market place, with this development now things will be more difficult,” she said.

She said though they we sell at the rate they buy things in the market, the effect of this decision will be too much for ordinary Nigerians particularly low income earners or the poor without means of livelihood.

Mr Akanni Oluwo, a school teacher in a private school, said the government did not do well with that decision, noting :“Nigerians are just trying to get over the hardship posed by the COVID-19 Pandemic, now see what the same government that refused to provide palliatives for us in respect of pandemic are coming out with.

“When will the government that promised us the “Change Mantra “during the campaign period before 2019 General Elections allow us to enjoy dividend of democracy ?”

He said with the new electricity tariffs, hike in Multi Choice and Gotv rates, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari should have a rethink and let Nigerians breath instead of loading them with bitter death pills, all in the name of reforms or governance.

Ajao Olawoyin, an okada rider, expressed sadness over the development and urged the government to be more sensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians.Barrister Yemisi Joseph said the decision was ill-timed, pointing out that people are just trying to recover from the hardship imposed on them by the pandemic, yet the new regime of pump price has been slammed on them.

He wondered how the people would be able to cope with the new realities, saying “ all these commercial vehicle drivers and the market women, who have already increased the prices of their goods and services would now go haywire.”

A politician, Mr Ajomowe Jacob, however, rose in defence of government, saying it needs money to run government since everything
has gone bad because of the pandemic and the falling oil prices in the international market.

He hoped that the government would look for a way to introduce palliative measures to mitigate the impact of the increase on the common man.

Meanwhile, most filling stations in Lagos have adjusted their pumps to the new price while IPMAN has directed
their outlets to sell at N162 per litre.