Consumers query sudden rise as petrol pump price hits N1,100 per litre in Oyo
It was a mixture of surprise and shock for many consumers of the Premium Motor Spirits otherwise known as petrol as pump price hovers between N1,020 to N1,100 across many
It was a mixture of surprise and shock for many consumers of the Premium Motor Spirits otherwise known as petrol as pump price hovers between N1,020 to N1,100 across many filling stations in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital city on Saturday.
The sudden increase left many motorists and residents shocked, with some saying they never imagined the country would return to such a price regime.
Several consumers also criticised the absence of prior notice, describing the adjustment as unexpected.
The Nation gathered that the development began to unfold in Ibadan on Friday afternoon, when motorists started noticing changes in prices and queues began forming at filling stations by evening.
Earlier on Friday, petrol was still selling between N925 and N1,020 per litre, with many major marketers shutting their stations.
In the early hours of the same day, fuel was dispensed at between N920 and N925 per litre in Ibadan and neighbouring communities.
However, by evening, many stations had raised their pump price to between N925 and N1,020 per litre.
By Saturday afternoon, the few stations selling the product had increased the price further to between N1,020 and N1,100 per litre, while several others remained shut, citing lack of supply.
The development triggered long queues at stations dispensing fuel, while residents were again seen moving around with five- and ten-litre jerrycans in search of the product.
Some stations that were closed on Friday reopened on Saturday morning but under the new price regime.
A petrol attendant at a filling station around Iwo Road, who identified himself as Tunji Alawode, said the station shut down after receiving information about the price adjustment late on Friday.
He explained that the outlet decided to suspend sales temporarily while awaiting directives from its headquarters.
One of the petrol attendants at one of the filling stations located at Iwo road, Ibadan, who identifies himself as Tunji Alawode said they got the wind of the increase late Friday and as such decided to shut down, awaiting further directive from.the headquarters.
He said 'We got the information through our station manager that the pump price has been increased to a yet to be fixed price.
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'We decided to shutdown the operation till we get a further directive from him. We learnt that the increase in pump price might not be unconnected with the invasion of Iran by the combined team of the United States and Israel authorities.
"We are not party with the increase. It is going to affect us one way or the other. The transport fares from one end of the town to the other has been upwardly review by the commercial bus and taxi drivers.
"The development will soon affect the prices of foodstuffs and other households commodities.
Also during the visit to NNPC station along Ibadan-Ife Expressway, Adegbayi area of Ibadan, it was also discovered that the petroleum station also sells PMS at the rate of N1080.
In another visit to Alleluyah oil in Soka , PMS was also sold at N1080 while no queue was observed at the petroleum station.
Also PMS was also sold at N1080 at Energy switch located in the Soka area of Ibadan.
In an interview with a motorist, Dayo Adebayo , pleaded with the government to find solutions to the increase in PMS.
According to him some of the stations were under lock yesterday but which some are opened today at the rate of N1,100.
“We plead to our government to help find solutions the increase in the price of petroleum, as at yesterday many of the petroleum stations are under lock while some opened today at the price of #1080”
