Tunji Wusu –
On Tuesday, commuters and drivers in Anambra State experienced a sharp increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as gasoline, from N530 to N700 at the pump.
In anticipation that the price may increase to N800 starting on Wednesday, drivers and other product users were swarming gas stations and buying the product in greater amounts at the time.
Before word of the recent hike in pump prices spread around the community, our correspondent learned that the product was being sold at N530 per litre in the main cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka as of Tuesday morning.
Anxiety first surfaced earlier in the day when state-based independent oil marketers abruptly closed their filling stations and withheld their products for a period of time after learning of the increase.
After their emergency meeting in Awka, the marketers are reported to have resumed operations later that evening and swiftly changed their pump prices to reflect the new pricing structure.
As a result of the development, transportation costs unexpectedly increased by more than 30%, with commuters paying N300 for a trip they had spent N200 for earlier in the day.
As those who couldn’t afford the new pricing template were seen stomping to their various destinations in rage, commuters who were caught off guard remained stranded.
Checks showed that the Upper Iweka along the Onitsha-Owerri Road in Onitsha had filling stations selling at N700 per litre.
While it cost N690 at some filling stations in Nnewi, NNPCL facilities along the Awka-Enugu Road and other marketers were seen selling the product for between N620 and N650 per litre.
It was noted that some independent retail stores had already closed their doors in preparation of Wednesday’s anticipated sales growth.
An anonymous manager of a gas station in Onitsha stated, “We received a call from a sister gas station advising us to temporarily cease operations and be ready to alter our meter to reflect the new price because the pump price has increased by the NNPCL.
“Due to the sit-at-home order, we did not sell petrol on Monday. However, by today (Tuesday), we were selling at N530 before we received the order to halt operations until further developments. Our corporate office afterwards informed us to modify to N700.
A commercial transport driver in Onitsha, who went by the name Chukwudi, responded to the development by saying, “I am filling up my tank and also buying in Jerry cans so that I can keep it and utilize it for some days since we are suspecting that the price would go up N800 by tomorrow.
“This anguish is simply excessive. We did not bargain for this. The only option left to us is to raise the cost of transportation. I saw a lot of people hiking; they should get ready to hike more tomorrow because of the scenario.
