Nigerians were left stunned following the sudden hike in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), with motorists and residents of Edo State hit hardest by the unanticipated increase.
The abrupt surge in fuel prices left many in the state scrambling, as most vehicle owners and transport operators had not prepared for the hike.
Before the new price regime took effect, petrol stations across Benin City, the Edo State capital, were selling fuel between N691 and N980 per litre.
However, in towns outside the capital such as Uromi, Auchi, Ekpoma, and Igarra, prices were even higher.
The first signs of a looming fuel crisis became apparent the day before the hike, when several fuel stations across Benin closed their doors to customers.
By the following morning, long queues had begun forming at the NNPC Mega Station on Sapele Road, although the station did not start selling fuel until midday.
The price, which had previously been lower, was adjusted to N881 per litre after news broke that the NNPC had increased the price.
In response, many other stations followed suit, with prices ranging between N1,020 and N1,300 per litre in some locations.
The sharp increase in fuel prices had an immediate effect on transportation costs, with public transport operators raising fares on popular routes.
For instance, journeys that previously cost N400 were suddenly hiked to N600, and in some cases, doubled to N800.
Cyril Bello, a car owner and resident of Benin City, voiced his frustration with the government’s handling of the situation.
“It is a terrible situation and a case of the government deceiving the people. For twenty-four hours, I was unable to sleep because I could not understand what was happening,” Bello lamented.
He recalled the government’s previous promises regarding the Dangote Refinery, which he believed would help alleviate the pressure on local fuel prices.
“A few hours before then, we were told that Dangote Refinery petrol would soon hit the market and that would flood our local consumption, and eventually, the price per litre would drop,” he said.
Bello had hoped the price of fuel would drop to around N400, only to be blindsided by the sudden hike.
“This is wicked, this is painful. Now, as we speak, nobody has been able to tell us what is happening or the rationale for the increment.
They keep talking about market forces determining prices, but I think they are creating a situation where what we are complaining about today will soon become the minimum we can accept.”
He expressed disbelief at having to search for stations selling at prices below N1,000 per litre, a scenario he described as unacceptable.
“I was angry to buy fuel at N800 to N900, but once the price increased, I found myself running around looking for a station selling below N1,000. This is unacceptable,” Bello concluded.
