Households In PH Lament Increased Kerosene Price … As Gas Consumption Reduces To 800,000mt

Average households in Port Harcourt are currently lamenting the hardship they are exposed to following the astronomical increase in price of the commonly available ‘kpo-fire’ kerosene used as cooking energy.
The Tide’s check shows that one and half litre of the kerosene, usually sold in 150cl plastic bottle, which initially sold at #150.00, later increased to #350.00, is now sold at #1,000.00 since early October.
Obviously, the Kpo-fire kerosene, which many hitherto abhorred, because of the smokes it brings, but have no option but to use them, is now more costly than the price per litter of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called fuel.
Some households within Port Harcourt and environs have lamented over the hardship this has left on many families, as many average homes can no longer afford the kerosene.
A resident of Rumuosi Community in Obio/Akpor, Mrs Mercy Ogbonda, said what people are going through to get kerosene and gas is unimaginable.
“Look at common Kpo-fire kerosene that I don’t even like, just yesterday, my son was going round and round to buy, and what I heard was that the small bottle (75cl) now is N500, can you imagine that?
“This is a sign that we are going back to the old crude day where firewood will become the order of the day, and you know, it will affect our forest reserve, and instead of going forward, Nigeria is going backward in this present administration”, she said.
Also responding, one Mr Matthew Adikpa, a resident of Rumuekini in Obio/Akpor said the situation is being aggravated by the flooding that is spreading all over the places.
Adikpa in a chat with The Tide said the price of the small bottle of the kerosene might even hit N1000, adding that the only hope is for people to cry out to God for mercy and help
Meanwhile, the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited had recently halted importation of the product, leading to continuous hike in prices by independent marketers.
The Group Chief Executive Officer, NNPC Ltd, Mele Kyari, said more than 70 per cent of the over 200 million Nigerian population lack access to clean cooking fuels. The price of cooking gas has also skyrocketed.
The National President of the Nigerian Association of Liquefied Petroleum Gas Marketers, Oladapo Olatunbosun, had recently revealed that gas consumption had dropped drastically to 800,000 metric tonnes per annum from 1, 250 million MT per annum recorded about four months ago.
According to him, given Nigeria’s huge population, the country should consume at least six million MT per annum.
“800, 000MT per annum is the current consumption rate in Nigeria. A few months ago we were doing 1,250 million MT per annum.
“Ordinarily, given our population in this country, we should consume about six million MT per annum just like other African countries like  Morocco , Egypt, Algeria, Kenya , South Africa and other countries.
“But these countries currently consume more LPG than Nigeria despite our huge population,” he stated.

By: Corlins Walter