By Aaior K. Comfort

The price of petrol in Benue State surged to an alarming N1,500 per litre on Tuesday, leaving motorists and commuters in Makurdi frustrated and stranded. This sudden increase follows a previous range of N930 to N1,000 per litre outside the two NNPC Mega stations in the town, which typically sold petrol at N617 per litre when available.

As most filling stations in Makurdi were closed, possibly due to a lack of supply, those still operating hiked prices to between N980 and N1,100 per litre. Black market vendors took advantage of the situation, selling petrol for as much as N1,500 per litre.

The NNPC Mega stations in Makurdi, which were dispensing fuel at N898 per litre, saw massive queues of desperate buyers, many of whom expressed anger and frustration over the situation. Reports also indicate that petrol stations outside the state capital were selling fuel at N1,250 to N1,300 per litre.

James Tarr, a civil servant queuing at the NNPC Mega Station on New Otukpo Road, voiced his discontent, criticizing the federal government for what he described as “anti-people policies” that have led to unbearable hardship for Nigerians. Tarr warned that continued fuel price hikes would exacerbate inflation and drive more citizens into poverty, expressing deep disappointment in the government’s economic management.

“This government is obviously clueless,” Tarr said. “They should know that by increasing the pump price of fuel, inflation will continue to rise, and Nigerians will be driven into poverty even more. It’s very sad that we are here as a nation because of bad leadership.”