How Fuel Price Increase Is Affecting Taraba Residents By Joachim Agbo

Residents of Taraba State are grappling with rising transportation and living costs following a sharp increase in petrol prices linked to the escalating conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

Checks across several filling stations in Jalingo and other parts of the state show that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, now ranges between ₦1,350 and ₦1,450 per litre, depending on the filling station.

The increase comes amid a surge in international crude oil prices, which have reportedly climbed to about $120 per barrelas tensions in the Middle East threaten global oil supply routes.

The development has triggered immediate ripple effects across Taraba's transport and trading sectors, with commercial drivers and motorcycle operators already adjusting fares to cope with the higher cost of fuel.

A commercial tricycle operator in Jalingo, Musa Ibrahim, said the new fuel price has significantly increased daily operating expenses.

"We are buying petrol between ₦1,350 and ₦1,450 per litrenow. It is becoming difficult to operate without increasing transport fares because fuel takes most of what we earn," he said.

Commuters across the state have also begun to feel the pressure, with transport fares rising on major routes within Jalingo and between local government areas.

A civil servant who spoke on condition of anonymity said the rising transport costs are already affecting household budgets.

"Transport fare that used to be ₦200 is now ₦300 or more on some routes. For instance, from Mile Six to Secretariat Junction, which used to cost ₦250, is now ₦400. For those of us who go to work every day, this increase is very difficult because salaries have not changed," he said.

Market traders warn that the fuel price hike could soon translate into higher food prices, especially for agricultural produce transported from rural farming communities to urban markets.

Mrs. Deborah Yakubu, a vegetable trader at the Mile Six Shift Market, said the situation could worsen food inflation in the coming weeks.

"When fuel increases like this, transporters charge more to bring goods from the villages. Eventually the prices of tomatoes, vegetables, and grains will go up," she said.

Similarly, Alhaji Sani Abubakar, a transporter who conveys farm produce from rural communities to the Jalingo market, said operators are struggling to keep up with the sudden increase in fuel prices.

"The cost of fuel is now too high. If we don't increase transport charges, we cannot cover our expenses. Unfortunately, it is the final consumers who will feel the impact in the market," he said.

Economic observers note that Nigeria, despite being an oil-producing country, remains vulnerable to international oil price shocks, as much of its refined petroleum products are still influenced by global market dynamics.

With crude oil now trading around $120 per barrel, analysts warn that petrol prices in Nigeria could remain high if the conflict in the Middle East persists and continues to disrupt global energy markets.

For residents of Taraba, the rising fuel price adds another layer of economic pressure, as households and small businesses struggle to cope with increasing transportation and commodity costs.

Observers say the situation underscores the urgent need for Nigeria to strengthen domestic refining capacity and reduce its exposure to global oil market volatility.

Joachim Agbo is a business journalist and head of Economy Desk at Rock FM Jalingo