Mixed reactions trailed President Goodluck Jonathan’s nationwide broadcast on Monday, announcing the reduction of the pump price of petrol from N141 to N97 per litre, among other issues.
In Bauchi, some residents saw the president’s action as a development in the right direction, noting that the increase on Jan.1 in the pump price from N65 to N141 had led to the nationwide strike and protests called by organised labour.
Alhaji Sifawa Bello, an employee of the state Ministry of Health, described Jonathan’s move as a grand design to change Nigeria.
“Really as most people have been saying, it is not all about fuel subsidy. I think it’s more about the way government activities are carried out in Nigeria.
“It’s just unfortunate that this is happening during Jonathan’s time.’’
Bello said that most Nigerians agreed with government on the negative aspects of the subsidy regime but were sceptical about the management of the revenue accruable from it.
Mr Sam Israel, a resident, urged labour to “shift ground” for now in order to allow peace to reign.
“The issue is that the struggle is a continuous one. After all, it is always said that ‘the struggle continues’ and ‘he who fights and runs away lives to fight another day’.’’
Israel, however, said that the labour struggle had brought a new enlightenment to the populace, as it had underscored the need for vigilance on the part of the people regarding government policies.
Many petrol stations in the Bauchi metropolis remained closed as most residents said that they lacked proper knowledge of the status of the strike.
In Lagos, the reactions were also divergent, especially from stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
Mr Bayo Olowosile, the Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), said, “The strike is still ongoing and we urge Nigerians to stay at home and observe the strike.”
Olowosile, however, insisted that “Nigerians should decide on what they think is good for them so that it will not sound as if labour is not ready for compromise.
“We have decided to have a rethink on the issues and we asked Nigerians to stay at home and observe the strike to avoid injury and confrontations.’’
Mr Tokunbo Korodo, the President of the South-West wing of the National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), said that what government announced fell short of the union’s expectations.
According to Korodo, “our mandate is to ensure a reversal to N65 per litre.
“We are expecting the decision of our representatives who held meeting with the Federal Government.’’
Alhaji Abdulkadri Aminu, the National President of IPMAN, said “the president’s decision to reduce the earlier price of N141 to N97 per litre means he meant well for the nation.’’
Aminu said the reduction showed government’s good intention and its spirit of sportsmanship, and advised labour to reciprocate by calling off the strike.
Alhaji Adebisi Bada, the Financial Secretary, Western Zone of IPMAN, said that Jonathan, by his action, had listened to the yearnings of the people.
“The N141 per litre is too much for Nigerians to bear but the N97 per litre is better; so labour should call off the strike.’’
In the FCT, most of the filling stations visited were either locked or selling at the old pump price of N141 per litre, while a few others had complied with the new price of N97 per litre.
At the NNPC mega station on Olusegun Obasanjo Way, motorists were seen purchasing the commodity at N97 per litre, while the AP Filling Station opposite it was locked.
Advance Link, an independent marketer located on the same road, was also locked.
At the Conoil Filling Station, opposite NNPC Towers, the product was being sold at the old pump price of N141 per litre, while at Total Filling Station next door it sold at N97 per litre.
Mr Onyeka Ilohisike, a motorist buying fuel at Conoil, said he was not happy buying at N141 per litre while other filling stations were selling at N97 per litre.
Mr Taiwo Adeyemi, another motorist at the same filling station, said, he was buying at the old price of N141 per litre because he felt no station was selling at the new pump price of N97.
Mr Agwu Chinoso, a taxi driver at the Total Filling Station, expressed happiness with the review of the pump price of petrol.
He said the change had encouraged him to reduce his fares by five per cent.
Chief Kimisho Wakalu, a businessman who called himself a pro-deregulation Nigerian, said total deregulation was the only way to move the nation forward.
“I am a pro-deregulation man and in support of total deregulation of the downstream sector of the oil industry; that is the only way to move the nation forward.’’
Also in the FCT, some residents commended the Federal Government for reducing the pump price to N97 per litre, while others sought further reduction to between N65 and N70.
Mr Joseph Daramola, a civil servant, while commending the president for the decision to bring down the price, advised government to put in place initiatives proposed to cushion the effects of the subsidy removal.
“I urge the Federal Government to put in place the necessary measures?to reduce the high level? of corruption in the oil industry.’’
According to him, government should critically look at the area where people who do not import fuel are paid after submitting fictitious invoices which are not verified by the relevant authorities.
Daramola also spoke on the need for the president to be proactive in fighting corruption at all levels to enable to Nigerians have confidence in the government and the nation’s leadership.
In his reaction, the NURTW Secretary at Jabi Park, Abuja, Mr Moses Alexander, said members were happy with the decision of government to reduce the pump price.
However, he noted that no filling station had adjusted its pumps to reflect the new price.
According to him, “I bought a litre of petrol at N151 at Oando Filling Station, Utako, Abuja, in the morning.’’
Malam Sulaiman Mohammed, a transporter at Area 1, Garki park, said that N97 was still high and suggested a further reduction to N80.
In the Jos metropolis, the NNPC mega station complied with the presidential directive to reduce the pump price of petrol.
Correspondents who went round the city report that the mega station and its subsidiaries promptly adjusted their dispensing pumps downward.
They also observed long queues of vehicles as motorists struggled to benefit from the new price regime.
Conversely, oil major marketers such as Oando, Total, Mobil, MRS and Conoil were still selling a litre for between N140 and N150.
Members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) had also yet to comply as they were still selling a litre for N140 and above.
Some of the managers of IPMAN filling stations claimed that they still had the old stock which they purchased at the old price.
One of the dealers, Alhaji Mohammed Sani, whose filling station is located on the Bauchi Road in Jos North, said he would only comply with the Federal Government’s directive “after exhausting the old stock’’.
The black markets showed that petrol was being sold at between N185 and N200 per litre.
In Kano, most fuel stations had not opened for business by 10 a.m.
Mr Inuwa Bala, an attendant at the NNPC mega station on Kano Bye-pass, said that the station remained closed so as not to flout labour’s directive or incur the wrath of protesters.
On the Maiduguri Bye-pass, however, a station sold fuel at N140 per litre.
“We still sell at N140 for now. Yes, we heard of the president’s announcement this morning but no directive has been issued on the reversal of price,’’ an attendant said.
From Kaduna, civil society organisations and labour insisted on a reversal to the old price of N65 per litre and the complete overhaul of the oil industry.
The state NLC Chairman, Mr Adamu Ango and Alhaji Balarabe Musa, state leader of “Occupy Nigeria”, a pressure group, made their positions known in separate interviews in Kaduna.
According to Musa, a former civilian Governor of Kaduna State, “we expect nothing less than the restoration of N65 per litre of petrol, subject to further negotiations with all stakeholders.’’
Musa, the Chairman of the PRP and CNPP, hailed the president’s resolve to tackle corruption in the oil and gas sector through the passage of the PIB Bill now pending at the National Assembly.
On his part, Ango commended the president “for listening to the yearnings of the citizens over economic woes’’.
He, however, added that “our members in the state will comply with further directives from the labour headquarters.’’
Mr Shehu Sani, the President of the Civil Rights Congress, said the civil society would continue with its resistance to the increase in the pump price of petrol.
Meantime, most fuel marketers in Kaduna refused to open their filling stations to motorists.
None of the stations within the metropolis opened for business while the few providing services at the outskirts were selling at between N140 and N145 per litre.
Some of the officials of the affected stations said they were not aware of the new pump price, with one them, Malam Sani Adamu, saying “we have yet to receive any directive on the new price.’’
Many car owners who also spoke with the agency said that they decided to park their vehicles while awaiting fuel marketers to adjust to the new official price.
“We will not allow any person from now to exploit us; we will continue to park our cars until they abide by the government’s directive on the new price.
“They changed to N140 per litre within seconds of the government’s announcement of the increase in the pump price on Jan. 1; why should they not change now that it is down to N97 per litre?’’ a civil servant, Awwalu shehu, said.
In Birnin Kebbi, economic activities remained grounded in the morning as markets, filling stations and commercial banks were still closed, while vehicles were absent on major roads.
Government offices were also under lock and key as most workers stayed back at home.
Mr Kiruwa Zuru, the Kebbi Chairman of the NURTW, said the new price was still unacceptable as it would lead to escalation in the prices of many other commodities.
Chibuzo Oke, a resident, said the best approach to the deregulation was for the Federal Government to put in place practical measures to improve basic amenities in the country.
On his part, Malam Umar Mohammed, asked the Federal Government to further go down, insisting that “when people see changes in their living conditions they will accept the deregulation willingly’’.
In Katsina, filling stations remained closed in spite of the presidential announcement of N97 pump price of petrol.
Petrol stations in the town, including the NNPC mega station on Dutsinma Road, were closed.
A cross-section of people interviewed on the N97 pump price said it was high.
Alhaji Misbahu Maizare, the state Chairman of the Traders Association, however, said “we can accept the N97 pump price of petrol in order to prevent the country from eminent economic collapse.’’
In Adamawa, the price of petrol remained at N140 in spite of the price reduction.
A check by NAN in Mubi showed that most of the petrol stations in the area were under lock and key.
There was no petrol at the NNPC filling station, while the few available petrol stations sold the commodity between N135 and N140 per litre.
Malam Bala Garba, a commercial bus operator, commended Jonathan for reducing the pump price.
“The president is magnanimous by listening to the cries of Nigerians and by reducing petrol price,’’he said
In Damaturu, the Yobe capital, petrol stations remained shut on the excuse that they had exhausted their stock.
The correspondent who went round the metropolis reports that not a single petrol station was selling the product, while roadside hawkers made brisk business, selling at N200 per litre.
Motorists who were forced to buy from the hawkers complained.
Reports from Enugu indicate that petrol stations, including major marketers, continued to sell the product at exorbitant rates in spite of the reduction in its pump price.
Correspondents who monitored the situation in the Coal City report that major marketers still sold petrol at N141 per litre while independent marketers sold it between N160 and N180 per litre.
The major marketers, who shut their stations throughout last week in the wake of labour protests, claimed on Monday that they were awaiting directives.
The manager of one of the stations, who pleaded anonymity, said he could not adjust the pumps to reflect the new price, adding that he was awaiting the arrival of the right people to do the calibration.
An independent marketer, who also pleaded anonymity, said, he was selling at N165 per litre and would not reduce the price until further notice.
The correspondent also observed a long queue of motorists at the NNPC mega station, though it was not dispensing petrol but only sold diesel.?