Residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are facing increased hardship as the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol, continues to rise.
Investigations by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday revealed that many fuel stations previously sold petrol between N875 and N880 per litre. Currently, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) sells at N1,261 per litre, while other outlets have prices ranging from N1,335 to N1,383 and above.
NAN reports that pump prices have been increased more than five times within a month, leaving many motorists and transport operators struggling to cope.
Some commercial and private vehicle owners have parked their cars due to the high cost of fuelling, while only a limited number of commercial vehicles remain in operation.
The scarcity of vehicles on the roads has forced commuters, including civil servants, to wait for long hours at bus stops, with transport fares also witnessing sharp increases.
Speaking with NAN, some residents expressed concern over the sudden spike, urging the Federal Government to stabilize fuel prices and alleviate the hardship.
Mr. Nuhu Sani, a commercial driver, said the frequent fuel price increases have compelled transport operators to raise fares.
“Each time the fuel price goes up, we have no choice but to increase transport fares, but passengers complain because their incomes have not increased.
The situation is becoming increasingly unbearable, as many are struggling to cope with the ripple effects on their livelihoods. This high cost of fuel has also reduced my daily earnings, as fewer people can afford regular travels,” Sani said.
