The residents of Enugu State have decried the sudden increment in the price of premium motor spirit, popularly known as fuel, with many describing it as an invitation to hunger and anarchy.
On the 29th of May, 2023, the president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his inaugural speech, said that the subsidy regime is gone. This announcement was greeted by long queues in many filling stations in different parts of the country including Enugu State. As a result of this, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL adjusted the price of fuel to N537 per litre.
Many residents of Enugu State have different stories to tell about this sudden increment.
A male pump attendant in one of the filling stations in Enugu metropolis said “the president did not make the necessary plan before making that announcement. We’re affected badly and our sales have reduced drastically.
“Before the May 29th announcement, we sell more than 7000 litres of fuel in a day, but since after the “fuel subsidy is gone,” declaration, we barely sell 1800 litres in a day. I’m even scared that our company will downsize and ask some of us to go home that they can’t pay salary.
A motorist who spoke to our correspondent said the effect of the subsidy removal is audible to the deaf and visible to the blind.
The man who identified himself as Okeke Chukwukezie, said he doesn’t have any problem with subsidy going but the approach is anti people and has led to high cost of transportation and goods in the market. He called on the Government to as a matter of urgency, rollout palliative measures to cushion the effect the removal of the subsidy has on the poor masses.
Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, a bus driver described the situation as “height of wickedness by our leaders.
“How can you do this to us and also tell us you want to give us hope?, he asked.
He lamented that most people have resorted into trekking and they don’t make anything tangible from morning till night.
“Look at me here. On a good day, you can’t meet me sleeping in my car, you can drive your car from here to Holy ghost and you won’t find enough passengers to fill just 7 seats. How can we continue in business like this.?
A market woman at Abakpa market said her loss is unimaginable and she doubts if she can continue in the business.
“I’m into perishables and there’s no sales. I’m counting my looses and I don’t know what will become of me in the nearest future. The government should think about us. We’re dying,” she lamented.
