Transport fares triple in P/Harcourt as fuel price hike bites hard

Transportation fare has quadrupled in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital due to the geometric hike in the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit commonly known as petrol.

Intercity transport fare such as Port Harcourt to Owerri a distance of an hour, which hitherto was N1,000 is now N4,500, Port Harcourt to Aba is now N3,500 from N2,000, while Port Harcourt to Lagos is now N30,000, and Port Harcourt to Onitsha is N7,000.

Similarly, intra city fare such as Eleme Junction to Bori which hitherto was N500 is now N1,500, Rumuokoro to Rumuola is now N400, Port Harcourt to Omoku is now N2,500 from N1,000 and Mile one to Buguma is now N1,500 from N700.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has cautioned petrol stations selling PMS above the recommended pump price to desist from taking undue advantage of motorists or face sanctions.

Commissioner of Energy and Natural Resources Engr Uchechukwu Nwafor, while on surveillance to petrol station around Oyigbo axis of the state, said his team will not relent in identifying and sanctioning petrol outlets found culpable of the criminal act.

Nwafor who appealed to the public on the petrol price hike situation, blamed the situation on inadequate supply on the part of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

He also warned that petrol stations operators selling above pump price, when caught will be made to give a clear explanation as to how they sourced their products or be sanctioned.