AWKA RESIDENTS GROAN OVER HIKE IN PETROL PRICE

REPORTER: UCHE NDEKE

The rising cost of petroleum products, especially petrol, has continued to worry residents of Awka the Anambra State capital.

The situation has also affected almost every goods, services and commodities as a litre now sells between #250 and #260.

Since the price of petrol increased to #260 naira per litre, the cost of living in Awka has become almost unbearable for people, especially civil servants whose salaries and income remain static.

Cost of transportation, goods and services keep rising by the day as the providers complain that things may get out of hand this yuletide if government does not take urgent measures to address the situation.

Mr. Paul Okolo, who deals on wine and spirit, expresses regret that the hike has continued its toll on businesses as prices increase without control from any authority.

Another resident, Miss Ifunanya Ene, who distributes sachet water to hawkers, says the situation has adversely affected her daily expenditure as transportation fare increases per drop.

A community leader and public affairs analyst, Comrade Obi Ochije, describes the present situation as a shameful outcome for a country like Nigeria to be battling with scarcity of a product they should pride in.

Comrade Ochije says that if nothing is done urgently by the Federal Government, majority of the people who may wish to travel for the yuletide may find it difficult to do so.

Another consumer, Mrs. Chinyere Osita who bought fuel worth five thousand naira at #260 per litre, appeals to the Federal Government to fix the country’s refineries instead of allowing its citizens to languish in pain .

The respondents all note that the Yuletide may not go down well if the increasing prices of petrol and cooking gas are not checkmated immediately and reverted to the approved pump price of #165 per liter.

Meanwhile, Radio Nigeria observes that since the prevailing rising cost of petrol, the NNPC depot in Awka, which sells petrol at #184 per liter, opens once or twice a week.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU