Queues at filling stations: Nigerians narrate ordeals
By Maria Famakinwa
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Few days ago, rumour of a possible hike in price of petrol was rife in the country which led to the return of queues in filling stations, forcing buyers of the product to engage in panic buying.
Following the development, the federal government quickly reacted that it was not planning of increasing the pump price of the product.
Though, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) have urged Nigerians to stop panicking over fuel in the country as they maintained that there is sufficient product to sell. IPMAN National President, Mr Chinedu Okoronkwo confirmed that about six vessels of imported petrol ordered by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation(NNPC) were currently discharging the product and that the corporation has sufficient products.
Findings by The Hope in Akure, the Ondo State capital showed that the State government came on top of the situation after issuing a strong warning to owners and operators of filling stations in the state against hoarding the product or selling above government approved price. This warning issued by the Senior Special Assistant to the State Governor on Special Duties and Strategy, Dr Doyin Adebowale has so far been yielding positive results as two persons were arrested in Idanre by the State Petroleum Monitoring Task Force for selling above the approved pump price of N145.
Some of the motorists and consumers who spoke with The Hope lamented the pains they went through to get fuel and blamed the Federal Government for not being sincere. A motorist, Mr Yusuf Jimoh, appealed to the Federal Government to address the issue as a matter of urgency, saying everyone needs fuel.
“There is need for the Federal Government to address this issue as a matter of urgency, so as, not to cause more hardship for the citizens. They are claiming that there is fuel everywhere, why then was the queue? Why are many filling stations shut down? I think that the Federal Government is being economical with the truth. If not, how can they be claiming that there is fuel everywhere and consumers are struggling to get it? It is better they act immediately before the situation get worse.”
A commercial driver, Mr Obaniyi Ojo, said that he resulted to black market because he could not stand the long queue. “I was on the queue for some hours last Saturday and people were not ready to wait for their turn, so I resulted to buy from the black market so as not to delay my business but now, the queues have disappeared in most filling stations only that some of them now sell above the normal price.”
On how much filling stations sell per litre he said that some sold N180 why some N200 as he commended the State government for the timely intervention. “Let me seize this opportunity to thank the state government for setting up a monitoring team against exploitation of consumers regarding the issue of fuel, if not, the situation would have been worse. I will also want to appeal to the monitoring team to continue because some of the filling station owners are hoarding fuel to create artificial scarcity and make abnormal profit.”
Sharing similar sentiment, another consumer, who sells frozen food at Oja -Oba market, Mrs Gift Obayendo also called on the Federal Government to do everything possible to end the current fuel scarcity been experienced across the country. “I want to beg President Muhammadu Buhari to please use his good office to end the scarcity of fuel we are experiencing. This is festive period and I have stock that I just order for and since electricity is not regular, I mostly depends on fuel to power my generator so as to preserve my stock. But now, I am confused because the fuel is not even available. Last Saturday, I bought fuel from the black market to power the generator so as not to run into lost and you know what that means.”
When told that the situation is getting under control now said, “I want to agree with you to some extent because many of the filling stations that have fuel do not even open for sale while the few ones that open sell above the approved N145 per litre. Some were even saying that it will be worst this week and next because of Easter celebration. You can now see that the situation still need urgent attention? Let all filling stations in the state and across the country open for sale. The Federal government has said that there is enough petrol, why are we punishing ourselves? Go and check most of the filling stations that did not open, you will discover that they have fuel but just refusing to sell it.”
A private car owner, Mrs Funke Popoola, also urged the Federal government to solve the re-occurring fuel scarcity across the state once and for all. “It’s better the Federal government solve this problem once and for all because no country can move forward without irregular power supply and re-occurring fuel scarcity instead, we loose innocent lives because many during fuel scarcity in the past stored petrol at home which resulted into inferno and killed them. I lost a lovely friend due to this reason years ago. Even as we talk now, some people would have bought fuel to keep at home which is dangerous. How long shall we continue with this? The Federal government said there was enough fuel, yet, we are not seeing it.
“We need better explanation on this issue. Some people even claimed that it was because the oil subsidy had been removed and the Federal Government through the Finance Minister, Mrs Zainab Ahmed debunked the rumour that they have no plan to remove the fuel subsidy. What are we to believe? All I want is that there should be a lasting solution to this fuel scarcity because it is the masses who are bearing the brunt.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) President, Mr Ayuba Wabba has called on the Federal government to reject the call by the International Monetary Fund(IMF) to remove fuel subsidy, saying that such advice was synonymous with a hike in fuel price that would lead to more hardship for Nigerians. “Fuel subsidy is a form of corruption and payment for the inefficiency of the nation in the oil industry. The solution to fuel scarcity is to ensure that the four refineries in Nigeria are working. If properly managed, the refineries could serve the West African market and bring more income for Nigeria.”
