Major roads in Ilorin the Kwara State capital were today blocked in protest of increase in cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.

The road blockades were championed by Motorcycle and Commercial Tricycle Operators, known as ‘Keke riders,’ in Ilorin, to press home their displeasure over the hike in cost of fuel which they claim has been impeding their transportation business.

According to one of the commercial motorcyclist, Mr. Kehinde Abdulkareem, the protest is a peaceful one to draw the attention of government and relevant authorities to their plights, lamenting that they now spend between #1,000 and #1,200 naira for a liter of petrol in Ilorin.

“The root cause for the protest is because of the cost of fuel which we buy at #1,000 naira per liter. This protest is a peaceful one to draw the attention of government and relevant authorities to our problems, as we can’t afford payment for the motorcycle and tricycles we got at hire purchase,” said Mr. Abdukareem in Yoruba.

Another rider named Usman Aliyu also appealed to government to come to their aid as they find it difficult to break even in the business, adding that vehicular there is heavy traffic along Gerin-Alimi Road as a result of the protest.

In his words: “I see people in their number scattered everywhere on the road because of the cost of fuel. I came from Gerin-Alimi through Unity, road blockades causing challenge to move around. Ita-Amodu axis too was affected. May God help us, this challenge is serious.”

A visit to some of the affected roads, revealed that the “T” Junction along Taiwo Road linking Unity was affected, also blocked is the road opposite Government Secondary School (GSS), Maraba.

Other roads affected by the protest are; the bridge before JAMB office, along Kwara Poly, Sango, Gambari and Oloje areas in Ilorin, drawing attention to the struggles faced by residents due to the escalating fuel price.