Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
As the biting economic hardship takes its toll on the masses, some residents of Abia State, have told President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to quickly reverse the sharp and unannounced increase in petrol pump price.
They told the President to stop giving palliatives to citizens but address the fuel crisis to stabilise the economy.
According to them, Nigerians do not need palliatives but a stable economy.
Recall that petrol price, last week, jumped from N617 it was officially sold to over N1000 in different parts of the country.
In an interview with our Correspondent, an Umuahia-based tricycle operator, Mr Okwudiri Gabriel, 36, said that life had become increasingly difficult ever since the rise in petrol price.
The father of two told Mr President to stop punishing Nigerians but give them hope.
He said that if the fuel crises were solved and moribund industries revived, the economy would stabilise.
Gabriel who said he combines tricycle operation with palm kernel business, noted that but for the support of his wife, life would be too harsh on him.
He plys Umuahia-Bende route which was charged N800 before the latest increase in pump price but currently goes for N1000.
According to him, “nothing substantial comes out of transport business anymore.”
“We are just surviving by the grace of God alone. What we are doing these days is just to sell fuel for Government.
“My only saving grace is that I have another business in addition to Keke riding. I’m into produce business and I deal in palm kernel.
“My wife is managing the kernel business and it’s from there we are doing major expenses of the family.
“This Keke thing is just for feeding. Everyday I drop N7000 for feeding. Outside that, you cannot make any savings from Keke operation.
“No Keke rider can afford any expenses of N100,000 now. The economy is so hard and it’s only God that is helping us to survive,” he said.
He blasted the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, accusing it of ineptitude and insensitivity to the plights of the masses.
“APC has destroyed this country. We don’t need the so called palliative which they claim they are sharing. Let them keep it and reverse fuel price. We will survive by ourselves after all we have been surviving.
“All we need from Government is reversal of fuel price and building of industries that can create jobs.
“Things are getting worse everyday. We are all dying but Government is showing no concern.”
Similarly, Mrs Ezinne Ejiofo, a seller of cooked bambara nut locally known as ‘Okpa’ at Isigate Umuahia, said life was no longer at ease.
She lamented that a bag of 100kg bambara nut flour which sold for about N90,000 in December 2023 and early this year, now sells for N240,000.
The mother of three who said she used to prepare about seven custard buckets of Okpa flour a day, now prepares only three buckets a day following a sharp drop in patronage as prices have gone up.
She said that feeding for the family had become very difficult, adding that her biggest concern for the moment is how to cope as school is about to reopen.
She appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to as a matter of urgency, reduce fuel price to alleviate the excruciating economic hardship on the masses.
Mrs Ejiofo warned that if nothing urgent was done to mitigate the sufferings of Nigerians, the country would be headed for disaster.
