Price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) has risen from ₦870 to ₦930 showing an increase of ₦50 on each litre following escalated tension from the ongoing attacks and counter attacks over the Israel and Iran crisis for which the United States has launched attack against Iran.
Our reporter’s visit to some fuel stations in Lagos around Apapa,Victoria Island and Ajah shows adjustment in pump prices which reflected varying degrees of increment.
While some solid for ₦910, others sold for ₦930 with some stations having queues of motorists waiting to refuel their tanks.
Some motorists expressed worries over the possibility of inflation in the market as fuel increase is likely to affect cost of transportation and food items.
They also worried over the possibility of fuel price rising to an all time high of ₦1300 before year end if the hostilities are not stopped
The rise in petrol price came after the United States Government backed Israeli administration attacked six airports in western, eastern and central Iran, destroying 15 aircraft and helicopters as part of its “effort to deepen air superiority in Iranian skies.”
“The strikes damaged runways, underground bunkers, a refueling aircraft, and F-14, F-5, and AH-1 aircraft belonging to the Iranian regime,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement. “The aircraft that were destroyed were intended for use against Air Force aircraft and to thwart their attacks on Iranian territory.”
“The Air Force disrupted the ability to take off from these airports and the operation of the Iranian army’s air power from them,” the statement added.
Codenamed Midnight Hammer, the US led operation involved 125 military aircraft and targeted three nuclear facilities: Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan.
They were hit between 22:40 GMT and 23:05 GMT on Saturday (02:40-03:05 on Sunday Tehran time), the US said.
US Gen Dan Caine, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, disclosed more details during a press conference. He said:
The aircraft took off from the US and made an 18-hour journey to Iran
Some jets were sent west into the Pacific as a “decoy”, while others went ahead of the main bombers to ensure airspace was clear.
Seven B-2 stealth bombers tasked with hitting the nuclear sites flew into Iran and avoided detection. At the same time, two dozen cruise missiles were launched at the Isfahan site from a submarine – in total, 75 “precision-guided weapons” were used during the operation.
