Commuters in Port Harcourt and its environs are lamenting the hike in fares in major routes occasioned by the increase in the price of the Premium Motor Spirit otherwise called fuel. Despite the absence of fuel scarcity in Rivers State as being experienced in other parts of the country, there’s been a rise in the cost of the product in the state, as it is being sold between N890 and N900 and N1000 in the black market. This has led to yet another rise in fares in most parts of the state, with commuters and residents expressing their displeasure and calling on the government to do something to reverse the trend.
A respondent who pleaded anonymity during an interview with our correspondent on Wednesday said, “It’s frustrating. Yesterday, I paid N200 from Agip to Waterlines, only for me to come back in the evening and I heard there’s a 50% hike in the fare. “At this rate, even the increase in the minimum wage will amount to nothing, because of the increase in the cost of transport.
There’ll also be an increase in the cost of goods and services.” Also speaking on the effect of the hike in fare, one Mrs Felicia lamented the dwindling state of the economy and its impact on her beauty salon along Location junction in Port Harcourt. “A lot of things are affecting us, namely, the economy, the transport, and no more customers.
They are not coming because they said there’s no money for them to do any hair. Even the attachment is quite expensive. It’s now N5,000.
“Li.