Kano State is witnessing a sharp increase in fuel prices, causing significant distress among residents.
Daily News 24 reports that a few filling stations were closed, while those that remained open sold fuel at exorbitant prices, ranging from N950 to N1200 and above, adding to the mounting frustration in the state.
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Badamasi, a Keke (tricycle) driver from Dorayi, shared his struggle with the rising fuel costs. He explained that he now pays between N950 and N970 per litre at privately-owned stations, compared to the N620 he used to pay at NNPC stations, which have now raised their price to N897 per litre.
According to him, this has affected his Keke business as he sometimes take less than the amount he is supposed to collect “Despite buying fuel at exorbitant prices, we don’t significantly increase transport fares, yet some passengers still suspect us of trying to cheat them and refuse to board our keke.”
Salama Ibrahim, a Kano State Polytechnic student, lamented the surge in transport costs from school to home, which has risen from N200 to N300-N350. She revealed her coping strategy, saying, “To save money, I sometimes trek from school to Kabuga and then take a keke from there to my house, as the full fare is too expensive.”
The business community is equally affected. Abdulsamad Isiyaku, a businessman, revealed that the high cost of fuel is driving up the prices of goods, which he fears will ultimately burden his customers. “We are exhausted by the hardship and suffering,” he said. “We urge Tinubu to help us by reducing fuel costs, as high prices affect everything and make life difficult for us.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited recently raised its pump price from N617 per litre to N897 per litre, citing a debt of over $6 billion tied to the supply costs of petrol. This debt has affected the sustainability of fuel supply, leading to the current scarcity that is disrupting daily life in Kano. As the crisis deepens, residents continue to call for swift government intervention to ease their suffering.
