By Tony John, Tony Osauzo and Ighomuaye Lucky
Following the removal of petrol subsidy by the Federal Government, which led to over 200 per cent increase in the pump price of premium motor spirit (PMS), Nigerians from different walks of life have been speaking on their current survival strategies.
Rev. Osondu Aharika, clergyman, told Saturday Sun that his family now spends only on what is absolutely necessary.
His words: “The more than 300 per cent hike in the price of premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol, has dug a big hole in my pocket. I’m a public servant and my salary has not been adjusted to reflect the new pump price of PMS.
“Expectedly, the prices of goods and services are at the rooftop. To balance my expenditure so that I can take care of other family needs, I now buy 10 litres of fuel a week for my car. Also, we go for alternative products for the family. Instead of complete beverages for the children, we now buy the one that contains a higher quantity of milk and other ingredients for them.
“The effect of the price hike is absolute and we just have to make adjustments at the family level. The summary is that we spend on what is absolutely necessary for the family.”
For Dominic Akpan, a pastor, his family has discovered how to deal with the fuel subsidy removal.
Hear him: “The so called petroleum subsidy regime was a heartless elite rip-off of the common masses. What is the guarantee that after the hardship we wouldn’t have the elite re-loot the savings from the reversal and furthermore impoverish the people?
“I have since adjusted to the new regime. I no longer run my generators, but have resorted to using rechargeable bulbs, which come alight at least for some hours after power outage and I only use the vehicle when absolutely unavoidable. As a pastor of a church, we have reduced the number and duration of weekly activities so we can cope with the exorbitant bills spent on fuel.”
Inemesit Ukpong Okure, a lawyer, also spoke on how his family had been leaving their cars at home while making do with public transport.
“The high cost of petrol has really affected my activities as a lawyer and a mother. Our clients find it difficult to pay out transport fare, which is not even enough to take us to and from the courts any longer. Typing of court papers is equally expensive, but I have to use a laptop, which conserves energy, and only start generator or wait for public power supply if it is not that urgent, to print.
“Running the family has also become even more difficult. We can’t afford to provide what we used to give the children because of the high cost of food items in the market. But we have adjusted. Sometimes we take public transport since it appears cheaper than fuelling personal cars. We put on the generator at home when it’s absolutely necessary. We try to cut some of the expenses in social activities since the fuel situation has affected every aspect of our life.”
Another Nigerian, Bevy Efe, an activist, said the subsidy removal had caused hardship on him. his words: “There is no doubt that the hike in price of petroleum products, popularly known as PMS, has caused hardship on me as a Nigerian and Nigerians in general. The cost of transportation has geometrically increased as a result of the hike in fuel.
“Prior to the increase of fuel price, I could use N1, 000 of fuel to access my place of work but now, N3, 000 is not even enough for me. I want to use this medium to call on Mr. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to as a matter of urgency, address the issues of food security, health care, good roads and electricity and if fixed, will reduce the suffering on Nigerians. Money spent on fixing of cars as a result of bad roads will be channelled to buying of fuel. When food is cheap it will also help. When there is power, it will also help to reduce the cost of buying fuel for generators.”
“The high cost of transportation has made most of us to resort to self-help,” Dada Ayokhai, a lecturer stated.
Said he: “The removal of fuel subsidy, which resulted in fuel hike, does no good to the masses even though it’s been celebrated by the elites as a developed idea for the country. It has not been easy in any way to survive since the removal of the subsidy. Apart from the exorbitant increase in the cost of transportation, those of us who relied on fuel to power the generator due to erratic power supply to at least make use of fans are finding it difficult to sleep at night and monitor happenings through the television.
“Again, the situation in the rural areas is very pathetic. Imagine a situation when they are battling health challenges and needed to visit the nearest hospital. The high cost of transportation has made most of us to resort to self-help which implication is quite known.”
A legal practitioner, Matthew Edeghase, said: “I am personally facing a huge economic pressure as I now spend three times of what I was spending before the subsidy removal on petrol. It has caused a great drain on my finances especially as the nation is practically run on generating sets, I run my car, office and home on petrol generated power.”
A businessman, Sunny Ohimai, also lamented that the fuel subsidy was putting enormous pressure on him and his family. But he said his family was managing the situation well.
Said he: “The major thing is that, it has reduced the number of hours we run the generator. Now, I have switched from a big generator to a small one that has fuel efficiency. It consumes less fuel. Before, I used to run the generator from 5:00pm to 11:00pm. Now, I run it from 6:00pm or 6:30pm to 10:00pm. Within these periods, we make sure we utilise the light and do all that we need to do in the house. So, I have reduced the hours we run generator every day. Now, there is no indiscriminate movement. I control where I go. Movements now are based on cost implication. I have to reduce outings with cash too.
“The cost of fuel is very high now. The 30 litres I used to buy for N7,000 before is about N25,000 now. So, we are very careful on how we make our expenses now.”
Another lawyer, Angua Chukwuka, also admitted that the fuel subsidy had compelled most people to now manage their movements and curtail unnecessary ones.
Chukwuka said: “Coping with fuel pump price presents a huge challenge for me like for every other Nigerian. We are coping as law-abiding and responsible citizen. We can’t take the law in our hands. But, it is important for the government to explore palliatives measures. As a measure, unnecessary movements are curtailed. Phone calls and social media communication are advanced measures.”
“To survive, I do away with unnecessary things,” said Livingstone Wechie, a public affairs analyst. “Families and homes now cut down and I run a rigid family budget and economy by prioritising activities and logistics facing our obvious realities. We now adjust, knowing the challenges of the days ahead. Proximity to areas of activities should be the new order. Those with too many vehicles and luxurious cars must sell off to cut off needless liabilities. The economy has got tough, so we must get tough to get going. I strive do away with unnecessary things to survive. It is expected that things should get better with time, provided the government repositions our economy in keeping with both government obligations to drive the welfare of citizens,” he noted.
Also speaking, Dandy Mbachu, a hotelier, said his outfit no longer runs generators for 24 hours, unlike before.
“It has not been easy running a beer parlour business in this kind of no-fuel-subsidy situation. You know customers need lively places to unwind, but with the present fuel problem, we have reduced the hours we on our generator. Before it used to be 4pm to 10pm, but now we have to mange from 6pm and close early at about 9pm. A litre of fuel is between N530 and N600 here in Owerri,” he submitted.
