Motorists and commuters in Abakaliki have welcomed the recent reduction in petrol pump prices across filling stations in Abakaliki.
The respondents, who spoke in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Abakaliki described the drop as a welcome relief but called for further cuts to ease economic hardship.
NAN correspondent who monitored the situation in selected filling stations reports that major filling stations in the state capital reduced the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) from about N1,350 per litre to between N1,270 and N1,280 per litre.
The adjustment followed recent developments in the international oil market amid the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel.
Some of the filling stations visited by NAN, including AA Rano, Sharfa, Tycoon and Echemas Rainoil along the Abakaliki-Enugu Expressway and Ogoja Road sold petrol at N1,270 per litre, while others pegged the price at N1,280.
Mr Chinedu Nwankwo, a commercial bus driver, described the reduction as encouraging but said more needed to be done.
“Every reduction in petrol price brings some relief to transport operators and consumers. However, government should ensure that fuel becomes more affordable for ordinary Nigerians,” Nwankwo said.
Another transporter, Mr Emeka Ogbu, said the current price remained too high.
“We appreciate the reduction, but petrol is still expensive; government should intervene to bring the price down significantly because fuel affects every sector of the economy,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Ngozi Eze, a private car owner, linked the high cost of living to the increase in fuel prices following subsidy removal.
“The prices of transportation, food and other essentials rose after subsidy removal; if fuel becomes cheaper, many goods and services will also become more affordable,” Eze said.
A taxi operator, Mr Samuel Nnachi, noted that PMS remained a major driver of economic activities.
“When petrol prices rise, everything rises; the hardship many Nigerians face today is largely connected to high energy and transportation costs,” he noted.
Also speaking, Mr Kingsley Uche, a truck driver, urged government to encourage more local refining.
“Nigeria should support modular refineries and grant licences to capable investors to complement the Dangote Refinery. Increased local production will help stabilise prices,” Uche said.
The motorists maintained that expanding domestic refining capacity would reduce dependence on imported petroleum products and help make fuel more affordable.
Meanwhile, commuters at the Abakaliki Central Motor Park in separate interviews expressed happiness over the price reduction and urged transport operators to reduce fares accordingly.
Miss Esther Nworie, a trader, who said she was travelling to Aba in Abia State said transport costs continued to consume a large portion of traders’ earnings.
“If fuel prices have dropped, transport fares should also come down to reflect the new reality,” Nworie said.
Mr John Nwali, another commuter, described the reduction as a positive development.
“We are happy about the drop and hope prices will continue to fall; transport costs and commodity prices should also decrease,” he said.
Mrs Grace Okafor, a civil servant, appealed to transport unions to ensure that the public enjoyed the benefits of price drop.
“Workers are struggling with the high cost of living; any reduction in fuel prices should bring relief through lower transport fares,” Okafor said.
The respondents said that expanding local refining capacity, including support for modular refineries alongside the Dangote Refinery, could help stabilise prices and reduce the burden on Nigerians.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that petrol prices have remained a major concern since the removal of fuel subsidy in 2023, which triggered sharp increases in transportation costs and inflation.
NAN further reports that the pump price of PMS per a litre had remained at N1350 for several weeks in filling stations across Abakaliki until the recent price reduction.
