Enugu – Commercial bus drivers on Monday embarked on a peaceful protest in Enugu against the `incessant increase in price of diesel’’ and other petroleum products.
A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who monitored the development observed that students, civil servants and other commuters spent hours at bus-stops to board vehicles to their destination while some trekked.
Major bus-stops in the Uwani andIndependence Layout areas of the city were blocked by the protesters, forcing buses conveying passengers to join the protest.
One of the drivers, Mr Emmanuel Ani, described the continuous increase in the price of diesel as “unacceptable’’ and decried the nonchalance of the authorities to tackle the problem.
“We cannot afford to be buying diesel at N200 or N220 per litre when we have a government that promised us change. We are protesting so that the government can hear our cry and come to our rescue and the plight of Nigerians,’’ he said.
Another driver, Mr Tony Ubaka, said that they would not stop the protest until the price of the product was reduced.
“With N220 per litre of diesel, how many liters will I buy to fill my tank and how will I charge my passengers,” he asked.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to do something urgent to save the situation.
A commuter, Mrs Amaka Onuma, said that protesting and subjecting the people to hardship would not solve the problem and urged them to toe the path of peace.
“I am going to New Haven and we were intercepted at Nkpokiti bus-stop. I am now stranded because I cannot trek to New Haven. The government should please do something about it,’’ she said.
The protest which lasted for more than four hours, was relaxed when one of the drivers pleaded with his colleagues to stop the protest.
The product was sold for N160 per liter before it was increased to N180, N200 and now N220. (NAN)