‘I’m sorry for passengers’: Driver laments over the sudden hike of Fuel price in Edo State

Just hours after President Bola Tinubu took office as Nigeria's 7th democratically elected president and announced the end of fuel subsidies, residents in Benin City faced the all-too-familiar problem of petrol scarcity.

A recent investigation revealed that some independent filling stations in areas like Ekehuan Road, Airport Road, Sapele Road, Ikpoba Hill, and Siluko Road were selling petrol at prices ranging from N300 to N500 per liter.

While a few stations were open for business, others had closed their gates, seemingly hoarding the product with the intention of selling it at inflated prices. This situation not only caused significant distress for motorists but also put passengers at the mercy of drivers who had no choice but to raise transportation costs.

Expressing his concerns, one driver, who had patiently waited in line for hours to purchase petrol at N300 per liter, said,

“I feel sorry for the passengers because the price I buy at is the price I have to charge them. But if I buy at a rate higher than N500 per liter, how much can I reasonably charge my passengers?”

Unfortunately, this driver was unable to secure the fuel he needed, as it ran out just as it was about to be his turn. A potential buyer expressed frustration with the situation, stating,

“Nigerians are too greedy. We are our own problem. The president hasn't yet removed the subsidy, but because he mentioned something about it during the inauguration ceremony, every marketer decided to withhold the product and deceive their fellow citizens.”