Though the current hike in the pump price of petrol has continued to affect the nation’s economic value chain, the Anambra State Commissioner for Petroleum and Mineral Resources, Barrister Anthony Ifeanya says that the petrol subsidy removal, which triggered the hike, is for the good of the country, urging citizens to bear the pains.
The Commissioner however said that the subsidy removal, which led to inflation and weakened naira, requires the federal government to urgently provide palliatives, increase investment in agriculture and other critical sectors of the economy, while citizens tighten belt, cut down on lifestyles, among other survival measures.
Barrister Ifeanya, who noted that the current fuel price is almost the same as in other neighboring African countries, however called for the revival of local and modular refineries to bring down the price of the commodity.
He disclosed that the state government’s efforts to collaborate with the private sector for the establishment of local refineries are in the pipeline.
Contributing, the Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Enugu depot, which covers Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi State, Mr. Chinedu Anyaso explained that the recent sharp rise in fuel price was because of dollar exchange rate and drop in fuel supplies by the OPEC, saying that members of the association who supported the subsidy removal are also experiencing same hardship as the masses.
On how the current pump price of petrol is affecting commercial drivers and passengers, Mr. Christian Chibuzor, Director of a Mass Transit Company, Prince Emmanuel Uwojiofor, and another Transport Company staff, Mr. Vincent Chinwike said it has led to increase in cost of transportation and reduction in number of passengers,
However, a commercial bus driver on Awka – Onitsha route, Mr. Godwin Nwafa said though buying a liter of petrol at above six hundred naira is negatively affecting his business, his transport union has not approved any increase in fare, calling on the government to do something about the situation.
For Mr. Ezekiel Nwagu, who bought petrol at six hundred naira, the federal government is not helping matters for the masses, as according to him, there was no arrangement to cushion effects of the subsidy removal, while another motorist, Mr. Bright Ngozi, who equally bought the product at six hundred naira said he now moves around with only cars with less fuel consumption, calling on government to find better solution immediately.
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