Petrol reaches 1,500 naira per litre in south-east Nigeria
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Punch
Petrol prices have reached 1,400 to 1,500 naira per litre in several states in south-east Nigeria, despite a reduction announced by the federal government. In Anambra, the increase has raised some urban fares from 200 to 300 or 400 naira, according to Punch’s observations.
Petrol reached 1,500 naira per litre at some outlets in Anambra State, in south-east Nigeria, on Monday 19 and Tuesday 20 October, Punch reports. Motorists paid between 1,400 and 1,500 naira at several Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stations, despite the federal announcement of a reduced price of 1,350 naira per litre.
The increase pushed up transport fares. In Awka, urban journeys previously costing 200 naira were priced at between 300 and 400 naira, while those costing 500 naira were now being offered for between 800 and 1,000 naira. In Onitsha, the journey to Awka cost about 2,000 naira, compared with 1,000 to 1,500 previously, according to Punch’s observations.
Fares on routes between Onitsha, Awka and Enugu also rose, and traders attributed higher prices for goods and services to the cost of fuel and transport. A commercial driver in Awka, Chukwudi Ezeh, said petrol prices had risen from around 1,300 naira at the beginning of the previous week to nearly 1,450 naira over the weekend.
The surge comes as a reduction in transport fares promised by Nigerian President Bola Tinubu had been expected since 1 October. Punch says that, 20 days after the measure was introduced, travellers in the south-east were still not seeing a reduction. The cost of fuel had also prompted former vice-president Atiku Abubakar to propose targeted support for households.
Summary produced with the help of artificial intelligence tools, under AFREEQUE’s editorial responsibility.
