By Dada Ahmed in Lokoja.
Beggars who choose to beg for alms in filling stations in Lokoja, Kogi State, north central Nigeria, have expressed dismay over the fall in the volume of alms given to them by motorists and others buying fuel at such stations in the area.
The Reporters reports that the complaints of this segment of the population in the state capital might not be unconnected with the soaring pump price of fuel in the country.
Our Correspondent,who visited some of the filling stations in Lokoja on Wednesday reports that a petrol attendant in one of the filling stations around FEN junction, was seen selling fuel to motorists, tricycle and motorcyclists at the rate of N350.00 per litre instead of the official pump price of N187 per litre.
Our Correspondent further reports that none of the filling station in Lokoja sells fuel at the official price as the least unofficial price of the product,a motorist could buy,as at Wednesday, was N220 per litre.
One of the beggars,Mal. Muhammad Ali,(visually impaired and aided by a boy of about 10 years),in a brief interview with our Correspondent, regretted that he hardly make up to N500.00 a day in alms since the hike in the price of fuel.
“Most of the motorists I beg for alms turn me down,citing the high price of fuel which they said has drained their pockets,hence, their inability to squeeze some money for the beggars again after buying fuel.
“I am begging the government of President Muhammadu Buhari to please help in ensuring that adequate fuel is available to the filling stations to check price hike and discourage activities of black marketers.
“We beg and get from the what change is left with motorists after they must have bought fuel at the filling station. But now, they are also complaining that after they buying fuel at high price, nothing is left for them to give us as alms” he said.
Our Correspondent reports that though queue has reduced in Lokoja, the major problem facing motorists and other users of fuel is scaring and differential prices of the product.
Uptil the time this report, the federal government has not announced a new fuel price.
Meanwhile,the effect of the hike in fuel has continued to affect transport fare,food stuffs and other social and economic life of the people, with hike in prices of food leading in hitting the roof, almost on a daily basis.
