IPMAN Strike: Imo Residents Groan As Fuel Sells For ₦500 Per Litre

Economic hardship being experienced in Imo State has
been compounded following the strike by the
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association as
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) now sells for N500 per litre
at the black market. This situation has consequently
caused over a 100% rise in transport fares across the
state.
Members of the Imo State chapter of IPMAN had on
Wednesday commenced a strike over refusal of the Imo
State government to honour a court judgment to pay
compensation to a member of the association whose
fuel station was demolished by the past administration of
former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
As the strike enters its 3rd day, black market operators
are now having a field day, with a litre of fuel now
costing between N500 and N550. Fuel stations operating
in the state have all shut down. Our correspondent who
monitored the situation on Friday reports that commercial
bus drivers as well as motorcyclists have tripled their
fares.
Oniftv learnt the black market operators go to
neighbouring states of Anambra and Abia to source PMS
at of 240 per litre and then sell at N500 /550 per litre.
Transport fare from Owerri to Orlu is N1000 as against
normal price of N400 . This situation has left many
passengers stranded.
One of the passengers at Warehouse Orlu Park lamented
the sudden hike in transport fares. “I had to pay N1000 as
against N400 to Ideato because of this, and as you can
see for yourself, most of the passengers are already
stranded as they cannot afford the increase,” he
lamented.
Another traveller who identified himself as Ugonna
decried a situation where the state government does not
have interest in the welfare of her citizens.