Residents of Anambra State faced a sharp rise in the cost of petrol over the weekend, with the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) climbing to as high as ₦1,200 per litre in some areas. The sudden increase has triggered widespread concern among motorists, commuters, and business owners, as transportation fares and the prices of goods and services continue to rise.
A survey conducted across several major cities in the state—including Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, and parts of Awka—between Saturday and Sunday revealed that petrol prices ranged between ₦1,100 and ₦1,200 per litre at the few stations dispensing the product. Many filling stations remained closed or were not selling petrol, forcing motorists to search for available outlets and join long queues.
The scarcity of fuel at many stations contributed to panic among residents and transport operators, who feared further increases in price if supply remained unstable.
Several filling stations across the state were either closed or open without dispensing petrol. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) mega and mini retail outlets in Awka and other parts of the state were largely inaccessible to customers on Sunday.
Some stations opened their premises but did not sell petrol, leaving motorists uncertain about when fuel would become available.
However, a few stations along major highways continued selling the product at higher prices.
Two filling stations—Altrac Filling Station and Hanaco, both located along the Onitsha–Awka Expressway—displayed pump prices of ₦1,150 per litre on Sunday. Although petrol was available at these outlets, only a limited number of buyers were able to purchase the product, as supply appeared restricted.
The situation created frustration among motorists who spent hours searching for fuel across different parts of the state.
The rising cost of petrol quickly translated into higher transportation fares across the state.
Findings showed that intra-city transport fares increased by more than 50 percent in several locations.
Routes that previously cost passengers around ₦200 rose to ₦300, while trips that used to cost about ₦500 climbed to roughly ₦700.
Commercial drivers said the adjustments were unavoidable due to the increasing cost of fuel.
At Upper Iweka Motor Park in Onitsha, one of the busiest transport hubs in the South-East, fares for trips between Onitsha and Awka rose significantly.
Passengers who previously paid between ₦1,000 and ₦1,500 for the journey were now being charged approximately ₦2,000.
The fare increases also affected inter-state travel, with commuters heading to neighboring states experiencing similar price hikes.
At Ekwulobia Motor Park, transport fares from Igboukwu to Nkpor and Onitsha doubled from ₦2,000 to ₦4,000, leaving many commuters stranded as they struggled to afford the new rates.
Some passengers were seen waiting for hours in hopes that fares would drop, while others were forced to cancel their trips entirely.
The situation was particularly difficult for workers, traders, and students who rely on public transportation for their daily activities.
Observers at several motor parks reported heated arguments between commuters and commercial drivers over the increased fares.
Beyond transportation, the petrol price hike has begun affecting the cost of goods and services across markets in the state.
Traders and service providers said they were already facing higher expenses due to increased transportation costs for moving goods between cities and markets.
Some vendors warned that prices of food items and other commodities could rise in the coming days if petrol prices remain high.
The impact was especially visible on Sunday, when many residents were travelling to and from churches and other social events.
In several locations, commuters were seen bargaining with drivers or walking long distances after refusing to pay the new fares.
Commercial drivers insisted that the fare increase was not intentional but rather a necessary response to rising fuel prices.
A driver at Solution Park in Awka, Chukwudi Ezeh, explained that transport operators had tried to maintain the previous fares despite earlier increases in petrol prices.
“The increase in fares is expected as a result of the frequent rise in the pump price of petrol,” Ezeh said.
According to him, the situation began worsening earlier in the week when petrol prices increased from ₦860 per litre to about ₦960.
“The increase started early last week when it moved from ₦860 to ₦960, and it kept rising until it reached around ₦1,200 during the weekend,” he said.
He explained that transport operators initially absorbed the rising costs in order to avoid burdening passengers.
“We maintained the same fares even as petrol prices kept rising daily until we could no longer bear the burden alone,” he said.
Ezeh appealed to commuters to understand the drivers’ position, adding that transport fares would likely return to normal once petrol prices stabilise.
Another commercial driver, Chidi Onyekachukwu, who operates at Nnewi Triangle Park, said the fuel price increase had significantly affected drivers’ earnings.
“Our daily income has been badly affected by the increase in fuel prices,” he said.
He explained that drivers were forced to increase fares slightly to ensure they could still earn enough to support themselves and their families.
“To recoup these costs, we have no choice but to raise fares slightly so we can still make a take-home income,” he said.
Onyekachukwu also called on the government to address the situation urgently.
“The government should do something about the situation. Petrol prices have not been stable in the past few days, and that is very worrying,” he added.
Many commuters expressed frustration over the impact of rising petrol prices on their daily lives.
At Star Sunny Park in Onitsha, a civil servant named Ifeoma Obiora said she now spends significantly more on transportation.
Obiora, who lives in Onitsha but works in Awka, said she paid ₦2,000 for a one-way trip, compared to the ₦1,500 she previously paid.
“The increase in transport fare has placed an additional burden on household finances,” she said.
She also complained about the ongoing electricity shortages in the area.
“To worsen the situation, we have not had electricity for weeks. Many people now depend on petrol-powered generators to pump water and run basic appliances,” she explained.
Obiora urged the Federal Government to intervene to reduce the hardship faced by citizens.
“The government should do something about petrol prices and electricity to save the masses from unbearable hardship,” she said.
Another resident in Onitsha, Mama Chisom, said she recently purchased petrol for ₦1,200 per litre to power her generator because of the persistent power outages.
According to her, the rising cost of fuel has made it difficult for many households to cope.
“This is terrible. We don’t know how this week will look if the price continues to increase the way it did last week,” she said.
She warned that families who rely on generators for water supply and lighting may struggle if prices continue to rise.
Fuel marketers, however, said the price increase was not their fault.
The Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Enugu Zone, Chinedu Anyaso, attributed the rise in petrol prices to changes at the supply source.
Anyaso explained that the Dangote Refinery, which currently supplies a large portion of petrol to the region, recently increased its price.
“The price of PMS has increased because Dangote, which is our major supplier, added about ₦110 to every litre,” he said.
According to him, marketers simply adjust their pump prices to reflect the cost of supply.
“So the increase is not artificial or arbitrary. It reflects the reality in the supply chain,” he added.
Despite the current situation, some members of the Anambra Drivers Union expressed hope that the fuel market would stabilise soon.
Union members who spoke separately said they believed the situation could improve before the end of the week if supply becomes more stable.
For now, however, many residents of Anambra State continue to face the difficult reality of rising fuel prices, higher transportation costs, and increasing economic pressure.
