Few hours after the Federal Government increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol from N86.50 to N145 per litre, operators of filling stations in Osun adjusted to the new price and made the essential commodity available for motorists in the state. In fact, owners of these filling stations are now selling their products between N150 to N160 in the state.
New Telegraph reports that in many filling stations in the state revealed that, some private car owners and commercial vehicle operators drive into these filling stations to buy fuel without hindrance.
Due to this development, the transportation fare has been jerked up with 100 per cent while many residents resulted to trek countless miles due to non-availability of fund in their pockets.
For instance, transportation fare from Igbonna to power-line, areas in Osogbo, Osun State capital, which used to be N50 in the past is now N100 while transportation fare from Ife to Osogbo which used to cost N300 is now N600.
Also, skyrocketing in the prices of food items, which were noticed in the markets while many buyers went back to their different homes dejectedly due to inability to purchase the items with little money they were having in their pockets.
Many filling stations were also deserted by vehicle owners as majority of them abandoned their vehicles at homes and boarded commercial buses to their various offices and places of work.
Survey in the state revealed that, these unbearable costs in both food items and transportation fares are now causing confusion in virtually all the nook and cranny of the state as people of the state protested to register their displeasure to the fuel increment.
The chairman of the Socialist Party of Nigeria (SPN), Osun State Chapter, Barrister Adegoke Alfred said: “This latest increase again shows the inhuman and insensitive character of Buhari government. In Osun State, the government of Rauf Aregbesola has been paying half salaries for the past one year, which led to most workers living from hand to mouth and unable to foot the bills of their families.”
