Tricycle Operators, Others Begin Protest In Delta Over Fuel Price Hike

Commercial tricycle operators, commonly referred to as ‘Keke riders,’ alongside a group of dissatisfied women and youths in Delta State, convened on the streets on Wednesday for a peaceful protest in response to the severe shortage of premium motor spirit, exacerbated by the government’s official increase in fuel prices.

Naijaonpoint learnt that by the early morning hours, the scene was set with hundreds of market women and Keke riders traversing the bustling metropolis of Warri and Effurun, voicing their demands for President Bola Tinubu to take immediate action and reverse the escalation in fuel prices.

The protesters were equipped with placards and engaged in vocal protests, expressing their discontent and indignation towards the fuel price hike, which has escalated the fuel cost to nearly ₦1,100 per litre, further aggravating their economic hardships.

Some of the placards bore inscriptions such as “Tinubu, intervene now to alleviate commuters’ suffering’; ‘Tinubu, activate Warri and Kaduna refineries without further delay,’ ‘We are suffering in silence, the fuel price hike is a killer.”

The protesters appealed to President Tinubu to implement immediate measures to mitigate the crisis and offer relief to the Nigerian populace.

It was gathered that a segment of the protesters made their way from the well-known Deco Road towards Enerhen, expressing their discontent over the severe economic strain exacerbated by the excessive increase in fuel prices, in addition to the scarcity of resources.

According to The PUNCH, most of the service stations along the Warri-Sapele road were shut to motorists on Wednesday morning, with those that remained operational charging petrol prices above ₦1,000 per litre.

As a result, this situation adversely impacted commuters within the metropolitan area and those travelling between states, as drivers increased their fares for transportation.

The typically vibrant Airport Junction in Effurun, a key hub for interstate travel, appeared significantly diminished on Wednesday, as prospective travellers faced difficulties in purchasing tickets, and transport operators voiced their frustration over the lack of access to fuel.