The unannounced fuel price increase has left commuters and motorists in Aba, the commercial city of Abia State shocked and stranded.
Abacityblog learnt that fuel dealers in major fuel stations in Aba sold fuel at different prices ranging from N200, N220 and N250 different from the usual N165.
The fuel price increase has caused a hike in transport fare across the city as every short distance trip within Aba which used to cost N50 was increased to N150, while those distances that usually cost about N100 increased to N200.
Our correspondent reports that the hike in transport has pushed commuters to walk long distances on foot, as tricycle riders owners parked their tricycles after finding it difficult to convince some commuters to pay the new amount.
Mr Emeka Okoro, a tricycle rider said he increased his price because he cannot buy fuel for N220 and N250 and collect N50 for a short distance drop.
“How do you want me to succeed? Will I not feed my family? How will I stay on holdup, wasting my costly fuel and return home empty-handed and still feed them? I’m not the government.
“I don’t know why fuel prices went up. You can go and verify. But they cannot increase fuel price and expect transport fare to remain the same. Nothing is the same again.”
