Fuel Price Hike Causes dozens of furious commercial transporters in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital to abruptly halt operations on Thursday afternoon in protest against the skyrocketing cost of petrol crippling their business.
Commercial transporters in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, halted operations on Thursday in protest against the fuel hike affecting their businesses. Aggrieved Okada riders, tricycle riders, and other intra-city commercial transporters forced their colleagues off the roads, expressing outrage over the skyrocketing fuel prices. Passengers on Okada and tricycles were forcibly disembarked and left to walk to their destinations.
Fuel price hike in the state capital have surged to between N1,100 and N1,200 per litre, far above the NNPC’s official rate of N895. The protest, which began around 7:00 am, led to some filling stations in Ilorin suspending sales out of fear that their facilities might be attacked or set ablaze.
As a result, many commuters were left stranded and had to walk long distances, though private motorists were not hindered. Some commercial shop owners in the state capital also shut their businesses, fearing potential looting if the unrest escalated.
Efforts to contact DSP Ejire Adeyemi Toun, the spokesperson for the state Police Command, were unsuccessful at the time of this report, according to DAILY POST.
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One of the protest leaders, Habibullahi Isiaka, speaking to journalists, expressed that the relentless fuel prices has imposed an overwhelming financial strain on the riders, leaving many struggling to afford even basic essentials.
“The hike in fuel price has made it difficult for us to cover our basic needs,” he stated, highlighting how the price hike has slashed their income and severely impacted their daily operations.
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By Babajide Prince Damilola on 5th of September, 2024