The rising cost of petroleum products like gas, petrol , diesel among others has continued to worry residents of Awka the Anambra state capital.
The situation has also affected almost every goods, services and commodities as a litre now sells between Two hundred and fifty to Two hundred and sixty naira .
Our correspondent who sampled opinions of the people reports that the NNPC depot in Awka which sells at one hundred and eighty four naira per liter opens once or twice a week.
Since the price of the commodity increased to #260 naira per litre, the cost of living in Awka has become almost unbearable for people especially civil servants whose salaries and income remain static.
Cost of transportation, goods and services keeps appreciating by the day as the providers complain that things may get out of hand this yuletide if government does not take urgent measures to address the situation .
Mr Paul Okolo who deals on wine and spirit regretted that the hike has continued its toll on business as prices increase without control from any authority .
Another resident, Miss Ifunanya Ene who distributes sachet water to hawkers, narrated that situation has adversely affected her daily expenditure as transportation fare increases per drop.
A community leader and Public Affairs Analyst, Comrade Obi Ochije described the present situation as a shameful outcome for a country like Nigeria to be battling with scarcity of a product they should pride in.
Comrade Ochije remarked that if nothing was done urgently by the federal government, majority of the people who may wish to travel for the yuletide celebration may find it difficult to do so .
Another consumer, Mrs Chinyere Osita who bought fuel worth five thousand naira at #260 per litre , appealed to the federal government to fix the nations refineries instead of allowing its citizens to languish in pain .
The respondents all noted that the yuletide celebration may not go down well if the increasing prices of fuel and gas are not checkmated immediately and reverted to the approved pump price of 165 naira per liter.
/UN
