By: OBIARANDU OHIRI
Consumers of premium motor spirit, PMS, better known as petrol are lamenting over the sudden jerkup in the price of the commodity in Owerri, Imo State.
The product which was selling for N180 per litre prior to the last yuletide festivities is now selling for N350 per litre in Owerri.
The price is as high as N400 to N420 per litre at surburbs like Akabo, Mgbirichi, Obinze, Avu, Ihiagwa and Anara.
The traditional ruler of Ofekata 1 Autonomous Community in Awo-Ommama Oru East Local Government Area of Imo State, Eze E. E. Ononobi said the hike in the price of petrol has impacted negatively on the fortunes of the lowly-placed particularly the artisans.
Eze Ononobi who spoke to our correspondent in. Owerri noted that transport fares have since skyrocketted thereby impeding commercial activities in the state.
He however commended a service station in Owerri which dispenses petrol at the lowest price compared to other service stations.
It was learnt that the service station sells petrol for N350 per litre as against N380 to N400 being sold by other service stations in the Owerri metropolis.
The monarch blamed the economic challenges being faced in the country to poor leadership and defective structures.
He therefore urged the electorate to vote in the right persons into offices in this year’s general elections.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the National Industrial Safety Council, Imo State, Ike Okey Humphrey said the petrol price hike has further compounded the misery of the masses who could no longer put food on their tables.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer, Michnold Enterprises, Owerri, Franklin Okoro said the hike in PMS price has jerked up distribution cost of goods and services.
Okoro said the development has compounded the problems of the people especially those already living below the poverty line.
Vivian of Vivian Palace, Item Street Owerri disclosed that the hike in petrol price has impacted negatively on her business.
She called on government to intervene very quiclyk to restore normalcy in the supply and price of the hydrocarbon.
Other respondents, Kelechi, Izuchukwu, Eyo and Madam Chii called on the federal government to rehabilitate the country’s four refineries.
They regretted that none of the country’s refineries was working seven years into the administration that promised to resucitate them at its inception.
Madam Chii and Eyo enjoined Nigerians to vote for the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi in February, this year if the country wishes to witness a turnaround in its fortunes going forward.
Petrol was sold for N87 per litre when the All Progressives Congress, APC administration of President Muhammadu Buhari came into office in 2015.
Under Buhari’s watch, the price of PMS has skyrocketted to N400 per litre.
Diesel and kerosene are already selling for between N900 and N850 per litre respectively.
