Imo people particularly residents of Owerri the state capital are now experiencing the last point of hardship carrying out their economic activities following the continuous increase in the pump price of petroleum products especially petrol
Our correspondent reports that as at Tuesday January 10, 2023, the pump price of petrol sold at N650 and N700 per litre in some of the petrol stations along Porthacourt road while some stations at Orji, Amakohia, Akwakuma, Ubomiri, Nwaorieubi axis sells between N550 and N650 per litre respectively
Following this unbearable development, most farmers now find it difficult to move their produce to the urban areas while some public and civil servants no longer go to work the usual five days a week due to high transport fares which has been increased by more than hundred percent
The public and civil servants talked to decried the high level of hardship they are now facing and called on the state Government to do something to arrest this ugly situation
According to one Charles Ndibe of the ministry of Education, ” life is not worth living again in this state because of hardship, we are really suffering hell here”
He continued, ” with this increase in pump price of petrol every thing in the have their prices adjusted astronomically thereby adding more pain on the people”
In her own opinion, one Mrs Juliana Ezeji of the ministry of agriculture, believed that if this situation is not checked now might lead to the breakdown of law and order in the state
According to her, ” this is terrible, we have not had this kind of experience before, look at it now the prices of food items have skyrocketed I and most families nolonger feed well”
Mrs Ezeji, wondered the kind of suffering school children who are now on holidays would be subjected to when they resume for the new school calendar
However no petroleum products marketer in the state was ready to speak on the situation giving the impression that it was unanimous decision not to speak to the media on the issue
A known politician in the state chief Jude Nzekwe accused the Government and the stakeholders in the oil sector of being responsible for the present situation facing the people pointing out that the Government know what to to remedy the situation
