By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Many residents of Lokoja and its environs in the Kogi State capital say they can no longer afford leisurely visits to relations and friends at far and near distances due to the astronomical rise in transport fares.
This they said was a sequel to the declaration made by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the removal of fuel subsidies.
On Monday during his presidential speech at the Eagle Square, Abuja, Asuwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu told Nigerians that subsidy on fuel was no longer justifiable, given the current reality of the Nigerian economy.
Our correspondent recalls that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited, NNPCL, on Tuesday, announced the new fuel pump price regime, raising a liter of fuel from N189 to over N500 throughout the country.
Those who spoke with our correspondent on the issue in Lokoja on Saturday described their action as painful but necessary measures taken to adjust to the reality of the situation of things now and sustain family unity.
Our correspondent that in Kogi state, a liter of fuel was being sold between N538 and N540, as at the time of this report on Saturday with a corresponding hike in transport fare and other aspects of human activities.
Mal. Umar Abdullahi, a resident of Zango, a suburb of Lokoja, said before the latest increase in the pump price of fuel, he used to spend about N600, to and from, any time he visited his family at Felele, another suburb of the state capital of about 12 kilometers.
"But with the increase in the price of fuel now, the same journey costs me about N1,000 to accomplish. The visit cannot be sustained, so I have opted to phone my family members in Lokoja and beyond to cushion the effect of the increase in transport fare on my pocket," he said.
Another resident who lives in Ganaja, another suburb of Lokoja, and who wants simply to be known as Anthony, described the hike in transport fare foodstuff and other essential commodities as far beyond the pocket of ordinary Nigerians.
"No more transport fare of N100, either by motorcycle or Kekenaprp in Lokoja, this is simply unacceptable. Some of us now trek some distances to get to our destinations, if we can and if not, we stay at home and communicate with others by phone.
"Some civil servants are said not to be spared the rod of this policy, as some of them can ill-afford the money to pay for the high cost of transporting themselves to their offices," he said.
Promoted by the removal of fuel subsidy, the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has called on its members throughout the country, to be on their mark for a nationwide strike by June 7, if the Nigerian National Petroleum Limited Corporation, NNPCL, refuses to revert to the old price of fuel.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, has also signified its intention to ally with the NLC in that regard, urging its members to be ready for action in the case that NNPCL is adamant.
However, sellers of recharge cards in the area are said to be smiling home with increased sales and profit, following a boost in their business as more people buy recharge cars to call relations and friends.
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