Some motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed concern over the rising pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
Dangote Refinery increased its gantry price from N1,165 per litre to N1,185, N1,200 and subsequently N1,265 per litre within one week, prompting filling stations across the FCT to adjust their pump prices.
Checks on Monday showed that Eterna filling station sold petrol at N1,320 per litre, Gegu Oil at N1,310, Salbas Oil at N1,330, while Nipco and AY Shafa sold at N1,350 per litre. TotalEnergies sold at N1,280 per litre.
The development has increased the financial burden on motorists and raised concerns over the wider impact on household expenses and food prices.
A motorist in Gwarinpa, Mr Olusegun Abbas, said he bought petrol at N1,320 per litre, lamenting the growing pressure the rising fuel prices were placing on livelihoods.
Another motorist in Dutse, Mr Adewale Salau, who bought petrol at N1,310 per litre, said the impact of rising fuel costs extended beyond transportation.
“I cannot feed my children three times a day because of the high cost of things in the market. Traders complain that it is because of the increase in fuel prices.
“We urge the Federal Government to urgently intervene by stabilising fuel prices,” he said.
A motorist in Kubwa, Stanley Okezie, said petrol was sold at N1,350 per litre in his area, warning that the increase would further push up food prices as traders sought to recover higher transportation costs.
Development expert, Dr Aliyu Ilias, also called on the Federal Government to urgently find a lasting solution to the rising petrol prices and make the product more affordable.
Meanwhile, the National Publicity Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Mr Chinedu Ukadike, attributed the increase to successive adjustments by the Dangote Refinery.
Ukadike said marketers could not continue selling petrol below the replacement cost, adding that frequent price changes were creating uncertainty for both marketers and consumers.
