Residents and drivers in Ebonyi regret the abrupt increase in gas prices.

The unexpected spike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) at the pump in the state of Ebonyi has alarmed several locals of Abakaliki.

In contrast to the official pump price of N185, the product was being offered between N200 and N230 per litre when the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) visited certain filling stations on Tuesday.

Residents’ lives have become more difficult as a result of the state’s numerous filling stations continuing to stockpile the merchandise.

Residents expressed their concern and begged the federal government to step in to ease their pain.

Commercial driver James Odoh told NAN that the abrupt spike concerned him, especially with Christmas rapidly coming.

“You know, whenever the price of fuel goes up in this country, it affects the prices of all other items on the market. Although food prices have been rising for some time, the expense of fuel is making things more difficult.

“I drive, and every day it stings more. You spend a fortune on fuel, but you won’t ultimately benefit from it.

“Surviving in this heat is difficult, yet man must work. Transportation costs have not yet been raised. The fare remains the same for Enugu, Port Harcourt, and Abuja.

According to the transporters, Enugu is between N1000 and N1,200, Port Harcourt is between N4,500 and N5,000, and Abuja is between N8,000 and N15,000, respectively.

“The current costs have risen. You spend a lot of money on both food and car maintenance. The government ought to help the underprivileged people, according to Mr. Odoh.

A taskforce and monitoring team should be established, according to stay-at-home mother Mary Okoro, in order to checkmate the situation.

The federal government and the Petroleum Products Price Regulatory Agencies were urged by teacher Monday Chukwu to take immediate action to alleviate the growing price of petroleum products.

Mr. Chukwu raised concern about how the current fuel price will impact transportation costs, particularly during the Yuletide.