Transporters lament fuel price hike

By Edith Igbokwe

Transporters in Oshodi-Isolo LGA have been lamenting  the increase in the price of petrol, saying it is affecting businesses.

Following the recent insinuation of impending scarcity of fuel, some filling stations increased the pump price from N165 to as high as N175.

The hike occurred in spite of assurances from the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that there was enough supply to go round and that it has not authorised any increase.

Speaking to ECHONEWS, the vice chairman of Tricycle Owners Operator Association of Nigeria (TOOAN) 7/8 Junction Unit, Mafoluku Oshodi, Mr. Kazeem Ajadi, said many of their members have stopped working since they could not increase the transport fares.

“Our Maruwa members are not finding it easy to work daily, some go off work for two days because they cannot afford to buy fuel for the business. Only few that have the capacity of buying fuel remained in the business yet, the transportation fares remained the same.”

He therefore appealed to the government and the concerned authority to revert the price of petrol to N145 per litre to ease the challenges people face while doing their business transactions.

Meanwhile, the Manager of Eterna filling station located at Under Bridge, Charity, Oshodi, Mr. Alaba Akande told ECHONEWS that the fuel is not fully in circulation.

He said they have not been able to restock their reservoir since they exhausted what they had while awaiting delivery to commence sales to customers.

He explained that petrol is sold at N168 per litre in his filling station, swearing that they don’t adjust their fuel duel meter.