Victor EzejaLagos residents are grappling with transport challenges due to lingering fuel scarcity which has forced many commercial vehicles off the road.
Between 7:30am and 9:00 am on Wednesday, 21st August, Prime Business Africa observed that many commuters were stranded at different bus stops along the Oshodi-Apapa Expressway as few commercial vehicles were available to convey them to different destinations due to fuel scarcity.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIn what seems like a struggle in the jungle, people scrambled to entered few buses that showed up at different bus stops, even with the hike in transport fare due to increase in price of petrol.
The scarcity, which began on Sunday, in the country’s commercial capital, has entered the fourth day, with its heavy toll on residents and businesses.
A man fell into drainage at Ilasa Bus stop while rushing with his child to secure a seat in one mini bus heading to Oshodi. Filled with rage upon rising up, he descended on the woman who was crossing the drainage at the point he fell, accusing her of being responsible. The woman was saved from his fury by passersby who held him back.
“I have been here for the past 45 minutes waiting to board a bus going to NAHCO Airport road, but only few buses are passing and some are even charging higher than what they used to collect,” a trader who identified herself as Monica told Prime Business Africa.
This fuel scarcity is really a big problem for us. The government should do the needful and make fuel available and at affordable price to make things easy for people,” a school teacher, Mary Ochei, said.
Many who couldn’t continue to wait for buses were seen trekking to work.
The scarcity has led to hike in transport fare for various destinations in the city.
“For the past one week, I have been trekking to work. One is because of hold up and secondly they have increased transport money,” Maureen Eke, a graphic designer, who lives in Mile 12 but works at Maryland told Prime Business Africa via telephone.
READ ALSO: Scarcity: Stranded Petrol Tankers Waiting For Supply Form Long Queue On Oshodi-Apapa Expressway
A commercial bus driver, Christian Emeka, lamented about the hike in price of fuel. “I managed buy at N960 per litre after staying for several hours on the queue. Many filling stations are closed and the ones that open are selling at higher prices, it is terrible my brother,” Emeka who plies Oshodi-Ajah route stated.
Prime Business Africa checks reveal that transport fare from Oshodi to Mile 12, formerly N300 is now N500, N600; Mile 2 to NAHCO along Airport road, N800 against N400, or at most N500 before.
Prime Business Africa observed that petrol stations along the airport road are closed, except Mobil which has a long queue that extended into the road, causing traffic gridlock on the service lane. The line of vehicles waiting to buy fuel from the outlet extended to Airport junction. While the petrol station is selling at N619 per litre, which is cheaper, many find it difficult to buy because of the queue.
Prime Business Africa observed that pump attendants at the station are only selling to motorists as many who came with jerry cans were not attended to.
Black market sells at N1200 per litre
Some individuals have seized the opportunity to make brisk business, hawking petrol along the expressway. They sell between N1000 and N1,200, depending on the bargain with buyers. They openly display petrol in 5-litre and 10-litre plastic containers. Many who couldn’t wait for the long queue at the Mobil filling station were forced to buy from the black marketers and go for their daily businesses.
Aside from the high price, there is also concern for safety as petrol being an inflammable liquid could lead to fire accident.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has ordered petrol stations across the country to stop selling petrol in jerry cans. The agency has also threatened to withdraw the operating licenses of oil marketers involved in the hoarding of petrol as scarcity of the product continues in many parts of the country.
However, independent petroleum marketers have said it is not a case of hoarding but lack of supply from the depots.
Since the removal of subsidies on petrol by the Tinubu administration, Nigerians have continued to endure high price of the commodity and occasional scarcity, often attributed to disruption in distribution to marketers.
While the federal government had vehemently denied maintaining subsidy, reports have indicated that it was returned through the back door.
As the scarcity continues due to supply constraints, Nigerians await the commencement of domestic petrol sales by Dangote Refinery to ease the sufferings.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
