By Bose Adelaja
CITIZENS COMPASS – Many commuters on Tuesday, May 30, 2023, resolved to trecking in some parts of Lagos State, as pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) hit N500 at some gas stations.
It was learnt that commercial vehicles were scarce on some roads as many drivers were on queue at some gas stations.
As gathered, some of the drivers who could not withstand the queue resolved to patronising black market at skyrocketed prices of between N800 and N1, 000 per litre thereby jerking up fares by 300 per cent.
Many commuters who could not afford the exorbitant fares, resolved to trekking.
Our Correspondent who monitored some Lagos metropolis reports that many commuters could not afford the fares.
A commuter, Alhaji Mustapha Nosiru who spoke with our Correspondent said he began his journey at Berger to Ogba and spent N1, 000 to and fro.
He said, ” Many people trecked long distances today because they could not afford the fares but my journey to Ogba from Berger cost me N1, 000.’ He said.
A student of Government Technical College,Ikorodu, Adeniyi Olawale said he trecked from the school to Isawo due to the increase in fares,’ ‘I trecked for three hours from my school to Isawo. Usually, N600 used to take me to and fro my school but it was a different story today as I exhausted the N600 before getting to school.
The fares would have been more than that if not for two adults that gave me money to add to my fares.”
A trader, Mrs Falola Lanre said she trecked from Alapere to Ketu bus-stop to pick her children from school.
Varrying pump prices
At some of the gas stations visited by Citizens Compass, it was observed that the price of PMS varies between N600 and N800 at some of the places visited.
It was observed that there were no long queues at the gas stations that sold at sky rocketed prices.
Meanwhile, few mega stations still maintained the normal pump price but not without experiencing unusual queues.
At Ojota, MRS sold the product at N185 per Litre but this brought about long queues as some buyers were seen with all manner of containers to buy the product.
At NNPC Alapere, the pump price wss N185 but some of the buyers said it may take one about five to eight 8hours to buy the the product due to long queues
At Asolo Isawo in Ikorodu, a gas station was seen selling the product at N500 per litre while at Agric area of Ikorodu, Malo gas station sold the product at N350 per litre and but collected extra N500 from buyers.
At AP bus-stop inward Agura-Gberigbe in Ikorodu, a branch of Mobil gas station was seen selling the product at N600.
Nigerians react
Reacting to the situation, Pastor God’sbaby Osifeko said, “Nigerians are just at it again, always seeking to take advantage of every opportunity at the expense of fellow Nigerians. Subsidy removal is not the reason for fuel price hike because subsidy has not yet been removed.
‘” The Federal Government through the appropriate body has issued out a press statement asking hoarders of fuel to start selling at regular pump price or risk being sanctioned. That should do for now.'”
In her contribution, Mrs Omobola Adenuga said,” I believe its time for the government to end fuel subsidy, activate deregulation and put an appropriate price on petrol. The money spent on subsidies can be put to better use.””
Oloye Salami Oluwaseun said, “I support the subsidy removal because it is the only way out for the country’s development and strengthening the economy but my main concern is the effect that this will have on the common/poor masses.
” I think the government should urgently put in place some palliative measures to cushion the effects on poor masses.”
