Many residents of Gombe have appealed to President Bola Tinubu’s government to reverse the hike in the pump price of petrol as a matter of urgency.

On Tuesday, the NNPCL increased the petrol price from N617 to N897 at its outlets.

Following the development, some petrol stations dispensing the product sell for between N1,050 and N1100 per litre, while the black marketers sell for N1,400  and above.

Nuhu Khalid, a Gombe resident, said the hike had worsened the hardship being experienced by residents.

“I am appealing that the price be reversed because the impact is very devastating,” he said.

Helen Uche, a trader at Gombe Main Market, urged the government to review the price downward because it would trigger further increases in the prices of goods and services.

Ms Uche said if the hike in petrol price was not reversed, it would cripple businesses and lead to further inflation.

“Before this new petrol price, in spite of the fact that farmers have started harvesting crops, the prices of grains and some other produce are not dropping.

“But with the new hike in petrol price, I am afraid if Nigerians will be able to buy foodstuffs in the market now. So we are begging the government to consider Nigerians and revert to the old pump price given the effect of petrol,” she said.

For Abdul Ali, a motorcyclist in the Gombe metropolis, said the situation would result in job losses.

“Many commercial motorcyclists have abandoned the business because the job is no longer lucrative as before. Imagine buying fuel for N1,400 at the black market which most of us patronise and end up making a profit of between N2,000 and N2,400 per day.

“If you remove the money to pay the owner of the motorcycle, you may end up with less than N1,000 as your take-home pay. We are appealing to the government to pity us because we are suffering,” he said.

A civil servant with the Gombe state civil service who spoke on condition of anonymity said life had become more difficult in the last 24 hours following the sudden hike.

He said the country’s crime rate may increase if the new price was sustained.

“This situation will lead to more job losses, and that will further increase suffering on ordinary people, so the government should look into the pains of the masses.”

(NAN)