Kwara State Governor, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has ordered the immediate deployment of buses across Ilorin to alleviate the difficulties faced by commuters due to the recent fuel price hike.
In a statement released by his Chief Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye the governor explained that the buses would transport residents to central locations within the metropolis at no cost, offering relief amid the ongoing transportation challenges.
The move is aimed at easing the burden on city dwellers, especially those attending the ongoing State Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, job placement interviews. AbdulRazaq also called for patience from transporters and the public as stakeholders work on addressing the impact of the fuel price increase.
Transport operators in Ilorin had gone on strike earlier on Thursday, protesting the fuel hike and leaving many residents stranded. The governor expressed regret for the inconvenience and assured citizens that efforts were underway to resolve the situation as quickly as possible.
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The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, increased its pump price from N617 per litre to N897 per litre on Tuesday morning, marking a hike of more than 45 percent, two days after disclosing it had accumulated over $6 billion in debt due to the burden of petrol prices.
The review, which ranges from N868/liter to N930/litre was communicated to all stakeholders.
In response to the price increase, traders and commuters all over the country, expressed their dissatisfaction, warning that the new pump price would further escalate the cost of living, particularly food prices, which had recently started to decline.
Independent marketers are now selling petrol at prices ranging from N1,000 to N1,200 per litre. The latest hike in the price of petrol has pushed up transport fares by over 50 percent in major cities across Nigeria.
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