October 26, (THEWILL) – Many car owners in Kano who had parked their vehicles due to high prices of fuel caused by Government’s removal of subsidy on petrol,have now adjusted to the situation and rolled back their vehicles to the roads.
An investigation by our Correspondent revealed that a good number of the motorists had earlier hoped that the Federal Government would respond to public outcry against the increase in the price of fuel,and partially restore the subsidy so as to make the commodity affordable.
However,having realized that the subsidy removal has indeed “come to stay”, the car owners now relaunched their vehicles back to the roads, making the streets lively again.
But others,the investigation found,withdrew their vehicles from the roads temporarily,to enable them make some adjustments in their daily spendings,before returning to the streets.
Checks in the capital city found that petrol sells for between N630 and N650 per litre, depending on the location of the filling station and type of the marketer.
One of the car owners, Malam Umaru Na Hajji, a retired civil servant, told our Correspondent that he parked his Honda car at the onset of the fuel subsidy removal, hoping that the decision would be reversed,but having realized that the new petrol prices have come to stay ,he decided to “come to terms with reality.”
“So,I resumed fuelling of my car,but discretely, because I buy N5,000 worth about 7 litres of the commodity,weekly and use the car occasionally,so as to save costs,” Na Haji said.
Another motorist,Hajiya Rabiya Nasiru, a housewufe,said she had already adjusted to the new fuel situation and rolled back her car to the road,”but I use the car to take the children to school and few other movements,only.”
“It is painful to continue to purchase fuel at these cut-throat prices,but I decided to resign to fate,as I have realized that parking the car for too long, too,has its own implications;the vehicle develops one fault or another,”Nasiru added.
Habibu Ilu,a 50-year-old businessman, said that he took back his Nissan car to the road,having adjusted his priorities and allocated more money to the fuelling imperatives.
“While my car remained parked,I realised the need to take it back to the road, because it is more convenient and befitting to use it than riding commercial tricycle.So,I made some adjustments in my financial resources to accommodate the new petrol price,” Ilu said.
The investigation also found that the motorists are, however, finding it increasingly difficult to purchase fuel,as most of the filling stations in the city have closed, selling only at their own convenience.
About the Author
Abdullahi Yusuf is a seasoned journalist, communicator and was previously the Deputy Editor-In-Chief and Zonal Manager, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, Jos, where he retired on December 15, 2021
