Petrol prices skyrocketed over the weekend, in Benue state reaching between N980 and N1,100 per litre, causing widespread anger and frustration among residents according to a Vanguard news report.
The sudden increase comes after a period where petrol was sold between N850 and N950 per litre at filling stations owned by independent marketers, while black marketers were selling it at N1,000 per litre.
The only exception is the NNPC Mega Station, which rarely has petrol to sell but dispenses it at N617 per litre whenever supplies are available. However, most filling stations in Makurdi and other major towns in the state have adjusted their prices, much to the dismay of motorists and motorbike riders.
Christopher, a commercial motorcycle operator, expressed his frustration, saying, “The continuous increase in pump price of petrol is making life unbearable for me and my family.” He shared how just the day before, he had purchased petrol at N850 per litre, only to find that the price had jumped to N980 per litre when he returned to fill his tank the next day.
“We did not see this coming. This government wants to impoverish Nigerians the more. What is our sin? Did we wrong them by voting them?” Christopher continued, voicing the concerns of many. “How can any reasonable government subject Nigerians to this unimaginable level of suffering? Every money we make goes to the purchase of fuel. This is not fair to poor Nigerians. This government is not listening to the cry of poor Nigerians.”
Christopher also highlighted the broader impact on daily life, noting, “Everything that makes life worth living is being priced out of the reach of the masses. We cannot feed our families, our children are dropping out of school, and people do not go to the hospital again if they fall sick because they cannot afford treatment. Is this what they promised us during the elections?”
Similarly, Comrade Odeka, a commercial bus driver, expressed his discontent with the current administration, stating, “We are tired of this government. They are bereft of ideas and do not know how to go about the governance of the country.” He pointed out the rapid increase in fuel prices, saying, “We bought fuel a few days ago for as high as N850 per litre, today I am buying it for N980, and if you go outside the state capital, fuel is being sold for as high as N1,100 and black marketers are selling for N1,200 per litre.”
Odeka also questioned the government’s intentions, adding, “Politicians want us to believe that this government means well for Nigerians. This is not what they promised us during the election, and it is sad that we are being subjected to this level of unimaginable poverty. This government is not fair to Nigerians.”
