Petrol prices have almost doubled in Benin after it was announced that fuel subsidies would be scrapped in next-door Nigeria.
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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 Popularly called kpayo – which means “unoriginal” in Goun, a native language – it is cheaper than fuelling up at stations, local media reported.
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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.