The price of kerosene in Ilorin, the Kwara state capital, has skyrocketed as a litre now costs N260, against its pre-Christmas price of N190.
When our correspondent inquired about the reason for the increase in price, an attendant attributed it to exchange rate and scarcity of forex, adding that the commodity had to be sold in accordance with the dictates of inflation. “People ask why the increase in price, forgetting that we sell in line with what we got in the market. The exchange rate has become very scarce and it is getting worse daily. And it is from this money that dealers import kerosene into the country,” he said. Some residents who spoke to our correspondent urged the federal government to quickly address the issue because the price increase was taking kerosene out of the reach of the commoners who use it to cook.