The nationwide fuel scarcity is constituting a fuel crisis in major cities across the country as commuters are beginning to lament and bemoan their fate.
The scarcity expectedly running to a month is taking a spiral effect on all economic issues including the price of commodities and transport fares.
In Lagos, it is a sad tale in most places, from Akowonjo to Iyana Ipaja and Abule Egba, motorists are having a torrid time getting fuel with long queues at many fuel stations whenever there are fuel. Many fuel attendants seems to be using the opportunity to make money as they attend to motorist who are ready pay extra from the actual prices of litres of fuel. Many that bought fuel in their jerry cans had to part with extra cash from two hundred to five hundred naira more.
At Lekki – Ajah axis the story is not too different as many motorists and commuters are getting fed up with the persistent fuel scarcity pervading in different locations.
A popular broadcaster, Charles Anazodo who was scheduled to be on air in a sports program at Lagos Talks radio station, lamented on Wednesday that he had to spend hours navigating from VGC to Lekki Phase 1 because of the long queues of vehicles waiting to buy fuel and causing traffic.
Even private schools who needed to purchase fuel, had to hire public transport like cabs and buses to convey their students.
A commuter, named Mr Chuks who reside at Oyingbo area of Lagos and works in Ikeja lamented the situation and said, he had not been able to make it to work regularly every day as the fuel scarcity had taken a bad toll on his workplace and family. The father of four said, “I am not able to pay for all my children school fees because of the evil fuel scarcity. Imagine I spend 800 naira daily to transport myself as against about 500 naira that I budget because of my lean salary.
“My wife being a petty trader cannot add much to augment what I earn and this fuel scarcity has really increased my expenses as my son due for his WAEC needs to pay it and it’s hard to raise the amount. This country has put much hardship on me and I can’t wait for it to end. I am already borrowing to fend for myself”, says the security personnel.
This seems to be the hardship caused by the incessant traffic as no one knows when this will end.
According to a correspondent from Daily Trust, It was gathered since the fuel crisis started, schools have been appealing to parents and guardians, whose wards normally ride in school buses, to assist in providing transportation means for the children whenever the buses run out of petrol.
A mother of two, Mrs Ramat Akindele, who spoke to our correspondent on the phone, said her kids, who attend a private school in the Ogba area of Lagos, went to school in a public bus on Thursday morning (today).
She said, “The school proprietor sent a message to parents via WhatsApp around 7am today that the school buses are in filling stations struggling to get fuel and begged us to find a means to bring the children to school.
“I had to take my children to a bus stop to board a bus. It was very difficult before we even got one because a lot of people were struggling for a few available buses. They got to school around 9am whereas they are supposed to resume before 8am. Instead of the usual N100 fare per passenger from the bus stop in Ojodu, the driver charged N300.”
The fuel crisis resurfaced in the country over a month ago, with Abuja and Lagos among the areas worst hit by the scarcity initially likened to imported dirty fuel.
A number of filling stations now sell above the pump price of N165/litre while ‘black market’ holds sway, with one litre being sold for as much as N500.
