Fuel Subsidy Removal: Marine transporters lament lack of business

Marine Transporters have started feeling the crushing effects of the fuel subsidy removal and how price of fuel is affecting their business in a gale of lamentations.The pains of the mariners were laid yesterday during a media chat with PEBNEWS. According to Waregha Demedongha, Beach Clark to boats travelling from Warri to Obotebe community in Burutu Local Government, the high rate of fuel is injuring to all transporters.              Waregha DemedonghaHe beseeched President Bola Tinubu and his team to sit, dialogue and set fuel price to normal state. In his words, "Boats normally come from the village in the morning and also live that same day evening. Then fuel price was N220 or N240, in four months ago, but per litre now is N700."The present high rate of fuel now is very-very injurious, not profitable at all. It's bad, and it's affecting us badly. In the sense that we were able to load 3 to 4 boats per day, but now we could not even complete the 12 passengers in per boat."My message to President Bola Tinubu’s administration is that they should sit and dialogue to bring the fuel price down." He said.On his part, Stephen Dauzuwo, Chairman of NPA Boat Owners Union in Warri South Council Area, described the fuel subsidy removal as tough time, stressing that customers are not hiring boats for work anymore."This fuel subsidy removal is giving us tough time in this jetty, because since this thing occur, boats are not going to work even our customers are not coming, for instance, if you want to go to Oporoza in Gbaramatu the fuel you will use now is times two. So it is really telling on us."Before, the lowest boats living our jetty to work per day were 20 to 30 boats, but now, hardly one or two go out."Therefore, our boats are not even going to work, so I really want the state government and the federal government to look into this matter and find out solution." Stephen stated.However, Kala-ere Clifford, a passenger, trading in Warri waterside, popularly known as Ogboye Waterside to Obotebe community in Burutu LGA each day revealed that there is additional N1000 transportation cost. He also implores the federal government to intervene before the anticipated 2023 flood comes.                  Kala-ere Clifford"At first the price from Warri to Obotebe was initially N1500 but the hard situation we have found ourselves in the petroleum industry has increased the price to 2500, a place that is not even up to 40min drive."It is really affecting we the passengers that are applying the trade from Warri to Obotebe every day."We want the federal government to interven because we are even approaching the hard time, which is the flood season before things become complicated." Kala-ere stated.