By Ambrose Ologide .
Following Tuesday morning increase of Petrol price to six hundred naira per litre residents in Warri South and Uvwie Local Government Areas of Delta State have continue to lament the hike of the product .
A litre of the petrol that used to sell for 520 naira was sold for 600 naira and above by all the filling stations monitored by our correspondent on Tuesday 18th July , 2023.
Some filling stations in both local government areas were closed for business at the time of filing this report.
As expected, the price of petrol has also increased from 600 naira to 700 naira per litre and above in the black market.
Pump attendants and managers of filing stations that were approached for comments kept sealed lips over the issue.
Attempts to hear from Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA were also unsuccessful.
However residents that spoke to our correspondent expressed displeasure over the development.
The immediate past chairman of National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools ( NAPPS ) Uvwie Local Government Area , Comrade ( Mrs ) Rose Obi accused the Federal Government of being insensitive to the plights of the Nigerian masses .
She noted that the Federal Government did not do anything to alleviate the economic hardships caused by the removal of oil subsidy before the increment.
A chieftain of Ohaneaze Ndigbo Delta Central and South Senatorial Districts , Nze Francis Onuara spoke in the same vein as he accused President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of too hasty in taking decisions that affected the masses .
He however noted that Nigerians were wicked to themselves in adjusting hashly to little decisions of government.
The President General of Uvwie General Improvement Union (UGIU) Chief Abovi Hope Erute lambasted Federal Government for increasing the pump price of petrol with impunity.
He noted that within two months the price of the petroleum product was increased to 700 naira . ” The Federal Government is taking Nigerians hostage ” he added.
Similarly, a Warri based legal icon , Chief Raphael Okene noted that it was the less privileged that will suffer the incessant abnormal increase in the price of petrol ” Even though they don’t have vehicles but they buy the product to energize their generators for the supply of water”
While a private car owner, Joseph Oghenekevwe declared that the increase in price of petrol was an unwelcomed development.
Oghenekevwe who also accused the Federal Government for taking Nigerians for ride on the issue , took a swipe at the Nigerian Labour Congress ( NLC ) as he described leaders of the union as toothless bulldogs .
” All these cannot happen in the days of Pa Imodu . The present labour leaders often compromised because they are parts and parcels of governments both at local, state and federal government levels.
” They are mere rubber stamps. It is really unfortunate ” he added
He expressed fear that the increase in the price of petrol will have a circuit effect particularly in transportation and foodstuffs.
True to his fear, some commercial tricycles ( keke ) plying Enerhen Junction to Express Junction and Orhuwhorun in Udu Local Government Area have added 50 naira to their transportation fares .
