Reactions are already trailing the increase in petroleum pump price from N165 to N185 per litre with citizens expressing concern over what they term the insensitivity of the Federal Government over the worsening economic situation in the country.

This is coming as the Federal Government communicated the approval of ₦185 per litre as the new petrol pump price to major petroleum marketers across the country on Thursday, January 19, 2023.

Prior to this there has been an astronomic increase in petrol prices, way above ₦165 per litre during the yuletide season which caused scarcity and long queues in various petrol stations leading to increase in the cost of transportation and has not reduced to the actual price as at the third week of January 2023.

Checks by Kristina Reports across petrol stations in Port Harcourt indicate that the product is being sold for ₦350, ₦300 and ₦290, amongst others, which were way above the approved amount.

According to reports, major marketers in Lagos have started adjusting their pump prices to the newly approved amount to meet up their operating expenses.

Some commercial bus drivers and commuters in Port Harcourt, who spoke with Kristina Reports on the fuel price hike and attendant scarcity, expressed their disapproval towards the new price.

One of the commercial bus drivers, who preferred to be addressed simply as Anayo said, “this thing dey tire person, though I never hear say federal government them increase am again but we dey already suffer high price, even that N185 wey them put am, nowhere for PH wey you go see am like that, so e be say na another level of increase dey come so”.

Another one named Ekpo Kingsley said, ‘We are already used to this increase, but my problem is there should be fuel, it should not be high and at the same time scarce, e no go funny at all”.

Favour Akpan, a commuter said “Port Harcourt t-fare is no longer a joke o, before you can go to three places with just ₦500, even this Rumuokoro that I’m going to now, if you carry ₦500, you’ll have change but now even with that same ₦500 you can’t pay for going and coming, you have to hold the least 1k any time you leave your house”.

Prince Chidi another commuter said, it’s funny, today you’ll hear 165, tomorrow 180, next tomorrow 300, anyhow it is we’ll survive that’s what I know but the Federal government should look into the matter because once the cost of fuel increases, transportation increases, every other thing increase”.