Motorists lament as petrol price hits N1,080, queues reappear at Ibadan filling stations

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By Adeola Badru

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Queues have once again started building up at petrol stations across Ibadan and surrounding communities as the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, climbs to between N1,020 and N1,080 per litre.

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The sudden rise in price has started to impact transportation costs within the city, with commuters already experiencing increases in fares on several routes.

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For instance, the fare from Mokola to Ojoo, which previously stood at N500, has risen to N600. Similarly, passengers travelling from Dugbe to Moniya now pay about N900, from the former N600.

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Investigations by our correspondent revealed that the fare adjustments are gradually spreading to other routes within the metropolis as transport operators attempt to cope with the higher cost of fuel.

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Many motorists were also seen driving around the city with jerry cans in search of petrol, as the scarcity appears to be tightening.

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Several filling stations that dispensed fuel to motorists as early as 7:00am, later shut their gates, leaving many drivers stranded and worsening the queues at stations still selling the product.

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A commercial driver, Mr. Sulaiman Adeyemi, expressed frustration over the situation, saying the rising fuel price has made daily operations increasingly difficult.

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“We are the ones people blame for increasing fares, but they don’t realise how much we now spend on petrol. If we buy fuel at over N1,000 per litre, we have no choice but to adjust our fares,” he said.

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Another motorist, Mrs. Funke Oladipo, said she had spent several hours moving from one filling station to another in search of petrol.

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“I have been driving around since morning with my jerry can looking for where to buy fuel. Some stations that opened earlier have already closed their gates. It is becoming very frustrating,” she lamented.

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Similarly, a private car owner, Mr. Kola Akinyemi, warned that the continuous increase in petrol prices would further strain household budgets.

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“Everything is becoming more expensive. When fuel goes up, transport fares increase and the prices of goods will also rise. Ordinary people are the ones suffering the most,” he said.

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Residents fear that if the situation persists, transportation costs and the prices of basic commodities may continue to climb across the city.

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The adjustment followed a jump in oil prices to $84 per barrel, up from below $70 days before the airstrikes involving the United States, Iran, Israel, and other countries.

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