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Residents groan as fuel scarcity hits Ondo

Saheed Ibrahim,

Kayode Olabanji
Jimoh Ahmed, Samuel Edu
Adedotun Aderoboye &
Kayode Afolabi

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Motorists and residents of Ondo State are groaning over hike in the prices of petroleum products as the persistent scarcity of the products bites harder.

The scarcity has further pushed up fares, prices of commodities and services leaving many commuters stranded on the streets of Akure metropolis.

Few stations where the product was available were selling hawking it at exorbitant rate between N250 and N400 per litre with long queues.

The Hope gathered that some filling stations and third party marketers were hoarding the product to sell at black market prices.

The scarcity has also led to many filling stations experiencing fights, attacks, sinister behaviours among motorists.

Commercial drivers have increased transport fares making life difficult for commuters particularly students.

This has led many, workers to trek long distances to their offices.

The least transport fare within Akure metropolis has been increased from N50 toN150 since Monday.

The cause of the scarcity  could not be ascertained as many people who spoke with our Correspondents blamed it on hoarding by the dealers.

A commercial motorcycle operator who does not want his name in print said the exact reason for the scarcity could not be ascertained.

“I bought fuel last week at the rate of N270 per liter, I was still complaining that it was too expensive, only for me to hear that some stations are now selling it for N300 per liter.

“I believe this scarcity is artificial, this is not rainy season and so no excuse is acceptable at this time. We pray that God deliver us from this hardship.

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“Another motorist said “it is as usual. We usually experience scarcity towards the end of every year and this year is not an exception, we hope it gets better by January.”

A civil servant, Mr. Fatai Akande described the situation in Ondo town and its environs as exploitative, explaining that marketers were exploiting the people by selling fuel at whatever price they want because the people were left with no choice than to dance to their tune.

His words: “The problem is that the stations are selling fuel at any price they decide. An acquaintance of mine went to Akure yesterday and wanted to buy fuel on his way back to Ondo but he could not get any in Akure. So, he had to come all the way to Bolorunduro in Ondo East before he could buy at N255 per litre. People are really struggling to get fuel. This is artificial scarcity and hike in the price of petrol.”

He added that “with what is happening in this country now, the government should look into making our refineries functional and meet the marketers to find lasting solutions to this problem. We need a quick resolution to this problem so that the country will be conducive for the masses who are mostly affected by this problem.”

A business man, Mr. Michael Akinduro said “in Ondo, the situation is that some filling stations are still selling at a little bit above N180 and those are the places where we are having the long queues whenever they have fuel. The other stations also sell fuel but at higher price. Some of them sell at N220 per litre while others sell at N230 per litre. People may be adapting to the situation but we are spending so much on transportation now. The cost of transportation within Ondo has increased tremendously because of the increase in the price of petrol.”

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A tricycle driver, Mr. Azeez Adewale said “what many people like myself who cannot afford to buy petrol at N220 per litre do now is to target when some stations like Bovas, Matrix, Optima and others are selling and endure the long queue because they sell at the normal price. Whatever we manage to buy from there can be managed till they will have fuel to sell again. That is why there are very long queues at those stations. Whenever I fail to buy fuel before it finishes at those stations, I will have to buy at higher cost at other stations which usually affect me negatively.”.

Report from Ondo North senatorial district said most of the stations have the product while there were no queue.

Commercial motorcyclists known as Okada in local parlance have increased their fare by 100 percent as they now charge between N200 per drop instead of N100.

A commuter and a trader, Mrs Florence Aanu who always ply Owo and Ikare said the increase in price of fuel which resulted in the hike of fares is badly affecting traders as they now find it difficult to go for their business trips.

Similarly, a part time student of Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba Akoko, Mrs Yetunde Bamidele, said the increase in petrol price has affected her seriously.

Mrs Yetunde said before the hike in price of petrol is already taking its toll on her and other students.

Meanwhile, the situation has also affected prices of consumer goods as sellers have also increased the prices of their goods to defray the cost of paying more for transport fares.

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Residents groan as fuel scarcity hits Ondo

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