Mary Onyia
The fuel crisis that surfaced over the weekend appears to have worsened as most filling stations in Lagos were closed, with long queues witnessed at the few that were opened for business.
This has further hiked the pump price of petrol as the few filling stations dispensing fuel were either rationing the fuel as well as selling at very exorbitant prices of between N980 and N1,000 per liter. And there is palpable fear that if nothing is done the price of fuel may further go up, thereby grounding all economic activities.
Due to the fuel scarcity, most roads in Lagos were free, with very few vehicular movements. The traffic experienced was only in areas where people had to queue for fuel.
Before now, petrol in some filling stations in Lagos was sold at between N6o0 to N750 per liter. NNPC stations sell fuel for about N600, while independent marketers retail theirs for between N650 to N800, depending on their source of supply.
Mr. David Akpan, a transporter who drove around town, on Sunday, hoping to get petrol for his bus told FP that he came home angry and frustrated. He complained that he was at a loss and barely knew how he could do his business on Monday, the beginning of the week.
“How can I feed my family?”, He asked. He explained that with the way things are going in the country, many more families will become destitute, adding that for the most part, he had to buy fuel from the black market which is very high, and leaves him with nothing at the end of the day.
He pleaded with those in government to imbibe the virtues of, empathy in their style of governance as many Nigerians are groaning under the harsh policies of this government.
“People can barely afford the essentials for them and their families”, he lamented, adding that things are becoming increasingly harder for the average Nigerian.”
As things stand, many commuters may be stranded at the bus stops, on Monday, owing to the fuel scarcity. “How then can the country move ahead?”, He asked.
Mr. Bisi Olagunju, another commercial bus driver accused the government of high insensitivity to the plight of the average Nigerian, adding that people are finding it extremely difficult to stay alive.
“I am the sole breadwinner for my family. With an aged mother and a family of six of my own, living in Nigeria and trying to fend for my family with this job is like attempting suicide”, Bisi said.
“The money is hardly enough, what with the demands of the motor park touts and excess taxes that one has to pay to continue to be in business?” He asked.
“This is not what they promised us during the election and, sadly, we are being subjected to this level of unimaginable poverty. This government is not fair to Nigerians.”
He called on the government to act fast before things deteriorated further. “We simply can’t go on like this”, he said.