Residents of Abakaliki have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari’s regime to urgently address the crisis in the petroleum sector and halt the rising petrol price.

The people spoke in separate interviews on Monday. 

They described the situation as unfortunate and causing untold hardship, noting that the astronomical price hike in Ebonyi and other South-East states negatively impacted their socio-economic life.

The residents said the hike had brought the economy of the area to its knee, with the cost of transportation of goods and services hitting the rooftops.

“The energy crisis is getting out of control. Already, prices of goods and services are increasingly getting beyond the reach of ordinary people,” a civil servant, Sylvester Ade, said.

Mr Ade further said the frequent adjustments in the pump price of petrol by filling stations amounted to economic crime. He regretted that the fuel price had steadily risen since November 2022.

According to him, the development has caused excruciating economic pain to the average Nigerian.

“A litre of petrol, which sold for N180 in November, has been on a steady rise. It moved up to N270 and N290 in December and now goes for about N350 and N400 this January,” the civil servant added. “This situation is unacceptable because it is frustrating everything in this country. Workers, businesses and developmental projects are affected and suffering.”

Another resident, Greg Okorie, wondered why the Buhari regime allowed a sudden unofficial hike in fuel prices.

Mr Okorie argued that petrol is still a regulated commodity, so people could not understand the current development.

“This is why the appropriate authorities should take action immediately to stop the current economic torture due to the astronomical price of petrol,” he said.

Nkechi Madu, based in Ekiti, expressed dissatisfaction over the development.

Ms Madu said the hike in transport fares due to the petrol price hike had left many people stranded after their Yuletide homecoming as she was affected, struggling to get her family back to Ekiti.

She said hundreds of other families were equally stranded since they could not afford the high fare to their respective bases.

“It will cost me roughly N80,000 to return to Ekiti with my four children. Where will I get such money? I saw people on the highways seeking a free ride back to their destinations,” Ms Madu explained. “President Muhammadu Buhari should address the nation on the fuel crisis.”

The Ekiti-based Abakaliki indigene added, “We also plead with relevant authorities to take urgent steps to bring the situation to normal.” 

(NAN)