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Umuahia Residents Decry Fuel Price Hike, Warn of Economic Fallout
In Umuahia, Abia State, the recent surge in Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) prices has sparked significant concern among traders, transport operators, and artisans.
The removal of the fuel subsidy has exacerbated the situation, leading to widespread fears of severe economic repercussions.
During interviews with NAN on Thursday, several locals voiced their frustrations, highlighting how the price increase is straining their businesses and daily lives.
Many expressed that the hike would likely lead to business closures and further economic instability.
Chidubem Okoye, a local trader, reported a noticeable downturn in his business.
“The price increase has made life increasingly difficult for both traders and customers,” he said.
He noted that his supplier from the North had raised prices due to the higher cost of goods, which will force him to adjust his prices accordingly.
Anayo Udensi, a tricycle operator, is worried that the new fuel price could drive him out of business.
He explained that the cost of fuel, which has now risen to around N1,000 per litre, significantly impacts his daily earnings.
“With fuel consuming most of my daily income, there’s little left after settling the owner of the tricycle,” he lamented.
He also mentioned that reduced passenger numbers are forcing many to walk to save on transport costs.
Mrs Nkiruka Ejiofor, a hairstylist, shared that the increased cost of running her salon’s generator has made her business less profitable.
She revealed that customers are opting for cheaper services due to higher prices, impacting her earnings.
Andy, a generator repairer, described the fuel price hike as a severe blow to his business.
He noted that fewer people are using generators due to the high cost of fuel, leading to a significant drop in the number of repairs he handles.
“With the latest price increase, we’re facing even tougher times,” he said.
Civil servant Mrs Priscilla Onyemaechi added that workers are particularly hard-hit by the fuel price surge.
She pointed out that many employees are struggling to afford daily commutes due to rising transportation costs, especially since the minimum wage has not been adjusted to reflect current economic conditions.
The affected individuals are calling for an immediate reversal of the fuel price increase and urging President Bola Tinubu to implement policies to mitigate the hardships faced by ordinary Nigerians.
TV anchor Rufai Oseni makes headlines as he speaks on fuel subsidy in Nigeria. He shared that Nigeria can have fuel subsidy without the long queues at filling stations.
“When we were still paying subsidies, there were no long queues. We were subsidising. So you can still have a subsidy regime going on, and there will be no long queues because production was close by. Dangote had it. That’s just it. That argument also falls flat.
“The biggest beneficiaries of subsidy are not Nigerians. They are crony capitalists that have big infrastructure, and they do contracts. They have been the biggest beneficiaries of the subsidy,” he said.
Lagos State Governor, Sanwo-Olu, speaks to those in the electricity sector about the usual blackouts in the state.
He speaks on ways things can change in the state and how electricity can be provided.
“We need to drop corporate egos, abandon long-standing excuses, and confront the harsh realities obstructing progress in the power sector.”
“We, state governments, used to give excuses that everything is centralised, so the Federal Government has unbundled it now. What have we done in a year and a half?” Sanwo-Olu asked.
“We take two steps forward, we go five steps backward,” he said.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has declared Thursday, August 20, a work-free day for public servants in the state to mark the Isese Festival.
Speaking on the celebration, he said “Ìṣẹ̀ṣe is not a relic. It is a living expression of our traditions and a celebration of Yoruba spirituality as an important part of Nigeria’s cultural and religious landscape,” he said.
He added “When the drums sound in Lagos on Thursday, they answer drums in Havana, in Salvador, in Port of Spain. Fifty-five million people and counting. Lagos is not observing a local holiday. Lagos is standing at the centre of a global heritage,” Aregbe said.
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