Nigeria - Hunger Looms as Price of Kerosene Hikes

The recession is biting harder into Nigeria in 2017 as the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the price of kerosene has increased by 60 per cent in Kaduna, from N1,100 a gallon in December, 2016 to N1,600 in January 2017.

According to dealers in kerosene, who spoke to the press in Kaduna state on Friday, January 6, 2017, the commodity suddenly became scarce and expensive and this was why the price was hiked.

Mrs Joyful Adeyemi, one of the dealers told NAN, that she bought kerosene in December, 2016 at N47,000 a drum and sells a gallon between N1,100 and N1,200.

“Only for the price to increase to N72, 000 a drum as at yesterday. This change forced me to increase the price to N1,600 a gallon; otherwise, I will be running at a loss.

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“More so, the product is scarce. I had to part with extra money to be able to get the quantity I needed," she complained.

Mr Sammy Bodam who also deals in kerosene said that the patronage had also drastically reduced due to the price increase.

Jamila Abubakar who uses kerosene regularly, said that the price increase was making life very difficult for the common man and urged the government to do something about it.

She said: “If not because we do not have an option, nobody will use kerosene again. This is because firewood is equally expensive, difficult to use and environmentally unfriendly, coupled with the accompanying health risk.

“But we cannot continue like this. Kerosene is an essential commodity and is becoming beyond the reach of a common man.

 “Just some few weeks ago, a gallon was selling for between N1,100 to N1,200 and suddenly there was a sharp increase to N1,600 a gallon. In fact, in some places, it is selling for N2,000.

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“I am urging the government to look into our plight and urgently address the problem; otherwise there will be no hope for a better life for a poor man in this country."

Another consumer, Mr Amen Rabo, said the price increase had forced him to turn to firewood because kerosene was beyond his reach.

“I cannot afford to buy kerosene, currently selling at N1,600. I am using firewood as an alternative, which is a bit cheaper compared with kerosene, with 10 pieces selling for N100.

“Unfortunately for us, 10 pieces of firewood cannot cook three square meals for my family a day; we just have to manage because kerosene is beyond our reach,’’ Rabo said.

Meanwhile, problems are rising in the petroleum sector as the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas (NUPENG) at Total Nig. Ltd. depots nationwide over termination of workers appointment