By Ebi Kesiena
Petrol prices have almost doubled in Benin after it was announced that fuel subsidies would be scrapped in next-door Nigeria.
Nigeria is one of Africa’s oil giants and subsidised petroleum products are routinely smuggled into Benin, where they’re mostly sold by the roadside and serve a large part of the population
According to local media, Popularly called kpayo, which means “unoriginal” in Goun, a native language, the fuel sold at the black market is cheaper than fuelling up at stations.
Nigeria’s new President Bola Tinubu had in his inauguration speech said fuel subsidy was “gone”, an announcement that triggered panic-buying and a surge in fuel prices.
It was later clarified that it would be phased out in the coming weeks.
However, the Nigerian government is currently meeting with representatives of the Trade Union Congress (TUC) at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The meeting, which started at 16:00 GMT, is said to have been at the instance of the government and is expected to be discussing fallouts from the removal of fuel subsidy.
