The year 2020 started on a very positive and lighter note, particularly with hopes for Nigerians who were expecting many progress and development in the country with the belief that vision 2020 will bring all dreams to reality.
But, with the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in Nigeria, the nation was put to a standstill and this disrupted all activities bringing the country to recession.
For more than 6 months now, the country has been battling with the pandemic and this has left many citizens in hardship and hunger.
While citizens are trying to cope with the effect of this pandemic, some government agencies affected by this have reacted by increasing their tariffs.
One of the agencies, the Petroleum Products Marketing Company, a subsidiary of the NNPC on Wednesday, increased the ex-depot price of the PMS to N151.56 per litre, with marketers saying the product would be sold at between N158 and N162 per litre.
Following this, some petrol stations in Ojodu Local Council Development Area (LCDA) in Lagos State, has adjusted their pump prices, selling the product at N160 and N161 per litre to reflect the increase in the ex-depot price of Premium Motor Spirit (petrol).
However, to monitor this development InsideOjodu took a tour around petrol stations in Ojodu to observe how both petrol sellers and buyers have reacted to this development.
First observed was that all the stations were opened and were seen dispensing the commodity to motorists without any hitch.
On the price of the petrol pump price, InsideOjodu observed that most of the filling stations around this area sold at N160 to N161 per litre.
While, NNPC petrol station at Berger beside Sule Abore, Oando filling station at Berger opposite NNPC, sold fuel at N160 per litre, Bovas Petrol station opposite UBA bank beside Oladipupo Oduwole street and Amuf Nig Ltd. Grammar School sold petrol at N161 per litre.
Meanwhile, reactions had continued to trail the recent hike, with some residents lamenting how this will increase the rate of suffering since the outbreak of COVID-19.
A resident, who simply identified himself as Tobi while speaking with InsideOjodu said: “it seems as though the government does not listen or gain understanding into their citizens’ situation because the increase in fuel and even electricity tariff at the same time is more like they are intentionally wanting people to suffer.”
Tobi, however, noted that it is only God who can avert the terrible situation Nigerians are going face right now.
Another resident seen at the filling station during the survey stated that at the moment, Nigerians can only hope for the best, saying that “it doesn’t matter how much Nigerians talk or attack the government on this matter, they will still do what they want to do”.
Mrs Afolabi Jokotade, in her words, was more concerned with the petrol station swift reaction to the new price, stating that “if the fuel was reduced petrol stations would not be so quick to change their pump price as they did now.”