Residents of Makurdi, the Benue State Capital, are having low celebrations as they lament the undue cost of transportation from the state. A development orchestrated by the high cost of Premium Motor Spirits (PMS) has forced many to suspend their yearly travels. At Evergreen filling station in Wurukum makurdi, The middle-belt reporters observes that the price of fuel per litre is N280 while at Westside filling station Kanshio, fuel had been sold between N300. However, black marketers continued to feast, as they pegged the price at N400 and N450 average John Tavershima said he travels every year during the yuletide from Makurdi to Vandikiya to see her aged mother. In his words, the transport fair has forced him to suspend the yearly routine. “traveling home yearly to see my mother who stays in Vandeikya has been suspended this year, due to a hundred percent increase in transport fare. The previous year, transport fares went between N1,500 and N2,000. However, this year is the worst. travelers are paying N3,000 for the same trip. trip” “I have decided to stay back and send cash to my mother though I never loved to do that I have no option this time” Another resident Okwute Dickson 45, from Okpoma Ainu in Oju Local Government Area, said there is an undue increment in the cost of transportation to Oju which was never envisaged. “The burden which has come with the increment in transport fares is heartbreaking, though I saw this coming I never knew it would get to this stage. He further revealed that the price from Makurdi to Oju was N2,000. while the price presently stands at N3,500, “I have decided to stay back with my family in Makurdi this year against yearly travel,” he said. “The hardship and suffering due to the current fuel scarcity are enormous, the oil we produce does not count anyway. It pains so hard to be a Nigerian who suffers without a fault. Like every other Nigerian, Dickson is wishing for a better Nigeria as Christian faithful mark the birth of a savior today. “I hope the government does something as soon as possible, to help us that are suffering this hardship” The Department of State Security Service had on the 8th of December,2022 given a 48 hours ultimatum to the oil marketers and NNPC Limited to end the lingering fuel scarcity. Despite the stern warnings, the current reality in Makurdi, and several states do not speak of compliance with the Security Services.
