TheCable

The price of Kerosene, an essential household commodity, has increased by 60 percent in Kaduna, trading at N1,600 per gallon from the N1,100 it was sold in December.

Dealers of the product told NAN that it suddenly became scarce and expensive.

Joyful Adeyemi, one of the dealers, said in December, she bought kerosene at N47,000 a drum and sold a gallon between N1,100 and N1,200.

“Only for the price to increase to N72, 000 a drum as at yesterday,” she said.

“This change forced me to increase the price to N1,600 a gallon; otherwise, I will be running at a loss.

“More so, the product is scarce. I had to part with extra money to be able to get the quantity I needed.”

Sammy Bodam, another dealer, said patronage had drastically reduced due to the hike in the price.

Jamila Abubakar, a consumer, said the sharp increase had made life very difficult for the common man and urged government to do something about it.

“If not because we do not have an option, nobody will use kerosene again. This is because firewood is equally expensive, difficult to use and environmentally unfriendly, coupled with the accompanying health risk,” he said.

“But we cannot continue like this. Kerosene is an essential commodity and is becoming beyond the reach of a common man.

“Just some few weeks ago, a gallon was selling for between N1,100 to N1,200 and suddenly there was a sharp increase to N1,600 a gallon. In fact, in some places, it is selling for N2,000.

“I am urging the government to look into our plight and urgently address the problem; otherwise there will be no hope for a better life for a poor man in this country.”

Amen Rabo, another consumer, said he had turned to firewood because kerosene was beyond his reach.

“I cannot afford to buy kerosene, currently selling at N1,600. I am using firewood as an alternative, which is a bit cheaper compared with kerosene, with 10 pieces selling for N100,” he said.

“Unfortunately for us, 10 pieces of firewood cannot cook three square meals for my family a day; we just have to manage because kerosene is beyond our reach.”

He called on government to look into the problem and save the common man from hunger, wondering how “more money is being spent on kerosene instead of food items.”