Motorists and commuters have continued to bear the burnt of arbitrary fuel prices in Akwa Ibom state.

Akwa Ibom state was one of the states in Nigeria where the price of petrol was put at N677.00 per liter by Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited.

Unfortunately, there is no petrol station that has kept faith with the price regime except the NNPCL mega station along Ikot Ekpene road, where the product sells at N617.00 per liter.

In Uyo, the state capital petrol sells at N800.00 per liter while in other local government areas, the product sells between N850.00 and N900.00.

This has led to over 50% increase in the cost of transportation across the state. No doubt, the result of this increase has added to the already high cost of living already experienced in Nigeria.

For instance, Uyo to Ikot Ekpene that was formally N1,000 now cost N1,500 while Uyo to Eket now cost N1,700 as against N1,000.

In the intra city movement now cost N200 depending on the distance against N100 previously charged. From Plaza to the permanent side of the University of Uyo now cost N350.00 against N200.00.

Speaking with Kristina Reports along Ikot Ekpene road, Inemesit Akpan, expressed concern over the absence of price control in the marketing of petroleum products in the state.

He urged the government to look into the situation so as to relieve the people of the burden of high cost of transportation in the state.

It would be recalled that Akwa Ibom state witnessed artificial scarcity a fortnight ago where sales outlet with products refused to sell to members of the public in protest of alleged extortion of their members.