By PREMIUM motor spirit, otherwise known as petrol, now goes for between N390 and N600 in Warri and other parts of Delta State, Stonix News can report.
This is sequel to Monday’s inauguration speech of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in which the removal of fuel subsidy on petrol was relayed on the ground that it was not captured in the 2023 fiscal budget.
Curious checks by our reporter on Tuesday revealed a tensed ambience across Warri and environs, following the development.
Most filling stations were under lock and key while a few selling the product grudgingly do so for between N390 and N600 per litre.
At the two Mobil Filling Stations at Garage along Warri-Sapele road in Warri South Local Government Area, a litre goes for N500. There was, however, no queue there.
Other filling stations such as AP, Zok, Total and Oando closed shop to customers not for lack of the product, but to create artificial scarcity, it was gathered.
Matrix Filling Station located along Effurun/Sapele road in Uvwie Local Government Area of the state was the only station dispensing PMS in that axis at N390 away from the previous N190.
Further checks also revealed that petrol in the black market has begun to boom as a litre is sold for between N600 and N800 along Warri-Sapele road.
A black marketer at Ginuwa junction, who looked distraught, said she couldn’t buy the product at N500 to resell.
Further checks showed that fuel is now N450 per liter at Conoil along Warri/Sapele road beside Hotel DeMark and N350 at McMerg filling station.
Meanwhile, following the sudden hike in pump price, intra and intercity transport fares have jacked up. For instance, fare from Igbudu market to Airport junction has moved from N150 to N250 by tricycle.
So also from Warri to Benin now goes for between N3,500 and N5,000 as against the previous N2,500.
Speaking with a distraught commercial tricycle rider, Tega, he said he had to go park his keke as commuters are rejecting paying higher transport fare.
“I bought a litre for N500. How do I recoup my money from passengers? For now, let me go a take some rest and ponder what to do next,” he lamented.
A civil servant who spoke on condition of anonymity said in anger that: “what is happening is pure “evil” against the peace-loving and law-abiding Nigerians. At Conoil Warri/Sapele road over night, they adjusted the pump price on the meter to sell for N450.
Lamenting further, he said: “Transportation has gone up. From PTI Junction to Abraka is now N1500. This is not funny at all.”
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