By Charles Abere
Some firewood and charcoal sellers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have expressed mixed feelings over the cost of transportation of their goods after the removal of fuel subsidy.
They told newsmen in Abuja, that the cost of transportation has affected their business negatively.
Mr Muhammad Hamisu, who sells firewood at Area 1, Garki, decried the high cost of transporting goods from its supply point to the city centre.
Hamisu said that the recent economy downturn has not only disrupted his pattern of business, but had cut down his profit.
He said that the firewood he buys from Nasarawa state which initially cost him N45, 000 to transport to the FCT, now it cost N65, 000 to transport same quantity of firewood.
”The increase is on transporting the goods from Nasarawa to Abuja and by the time we add the cost of transportation on the items, it drives away our customers.
”I used to sell one piece of firewood for N100 but now, it goes for N150. Some even sell at N200 but we noticed that patronage has dropped significantly and I reverted to selling mine for N100 per one.
”I used to make a profit of N25,000 to N30,000 in a week before, but now, I barely make gain of N8,000 in a week,” he said.
Hamisu said that he would not relent but to keep the business afloat until the economic situation improves and the standard of living was normalised.
Mr James Ochajo, who sells charcoal in Nyanya, said that he had to increase the price of charcoal from N100 to N120 to make up for the cost of transportation.
Ochajo while praying for a divine intervention for the country’s economy, urged the Federal Government to put measures in place to cushion the effect of the changes.
Meanwhile, Mrs Dorathy Boluwatife who also sells charcoal in Wuse, said that she was yet to feel the impact of the fuel subsidy removal on her business.
She said that she was yet to effect changes in the price of her goods because she still has old stock to sell.
”I bought my charcoal in large quantity, so I haven’t added anything on it yet, I still sell at the normal price of N100 per nylon bag.
”If I order for more goods and I notice that there’s an increase in the price either because of transportation, then that is when I will adjust the price to make up.
” For now, nothing has changed and I still enjoy patronage,”she said
It could be recalled that the Federal Government in May, removed subsidy on petrol while the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation increased fuel price from N195 to N530 per litre.
