New Petrol Price Takes off on Shaky Note in Minna

By Laleye Dipo

Implementation of the new pump price of petrol introduced by the federal government took off on a shaky note in Niger state on Thursday with most of the the fuel outlets not dispensing fuel to motorists.

Only the NNPC mega station on the outskirt of the state capital and two major marketers, Total and Oando, sold petrol to motorists at N145 per litre; others did so at between N150 and N160 per litre.

A survey by ThisDay in Minna revealed that independent marketers were either hoarding the commodity or were deliberately refusing to sell to the public.

There were long queues at the NNPC mega station and the three other stations dispensing fuel to motorists the survey showed.

The Chairman of IPMAN in the state alhaji Adamu Erena ThisDay that the increase in the pump price of fuel was unjustifiable adding that what IPMAN expected was total removal of subsidy from petroleum products not pump price increase.

Erena said the increase would have untold negative effect on the masses because prices of goods and services would increase.The Zone 6 Secretary of the National Union of Road Transport Workers, NURTW, Alhaji Ibrahim Salihu, speaking on the issue, said the union would meet next week to take a decision on the new transport regime to be introduced in the face of the new pump price.

There is no way we can continue with the present charges we have to increase the fares  but we will take the interest of commuters into account.

New Peoples Democratic Party PDP chairman in the state Barrister Tanko Beji described the development as ‘very sad’ adding that the policy would inflict pains on majority of Nigerians.

“I leave the rest to Nigerians to judge the fuel situation in the country is bad the new price will make it  worse,” he said.

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