As the country’s economic activities were negatively impacted by the statewide fuel shortage, commercial and vehicular activity were suspended. Travellers and commuters were left stranded at bus stops and motor parks because commercial motorists were unable to operate as long queues of vehicles formed at filling stations in different locations in a desperate bid to purchase fuel.
Nigerians struggled to go about their everyday lives due to what can best be described as a double whammy of scarce fuel and inadequate energy supplies, which left many feeling furious and disappointed.
The tale was the same from Lagos to Sokoto, Borno to Enugu, and Abuja to Cross River: Nigerians had to endure a terrifying experience as long lines at gas stations reappeared as a result of a shortage of Premium Motor Spirit, or PMS, or gasoline.
As the country’s economic activities were negatively impacted by the statewide fuel shortage, commercial and vehicular activity were suspended. Travellers and commuters were left stranded at bus stops and motor parks because commercial motorists were unable to operate as long queues of vehicles formed at filling stations in different locations in a desperate bid to purchase fuel.
Due to the fact that petrol was now being sold for as much as N900 a litre instead of the previous price of N600 or so, many stations in Lagos did not open for business.
While black marketers sell the substance for between N2,000 and N3,000 per litre in Sokoto, other filling stations charge as much as N1, 500 per litre.
Vanguard’s findings show that a large number of drivers and other users were forced by external factors to buy from black market vendors who were selling in jerry cans.
Transporters raised their prices by 100% as a result of the development to offset the rising cost of petrol.
For instance, in Lagos, commuters paid N2, 000 from Mile 12 to Mile 2, a distance that used to cost them N1, 000, while others paid N1, 000 from CMS to Mile 2, which previously cost about N500.
There were also indications that the scarcity may have led to a hike in the prices of foodstuff, especially pepper.
A Lagos resident, Adedeji Abiodun, put it this way: “It will also interest you to know that the scarcity of petrol not only affects transportation, foodstuff prices have also skyrocketed, especially pepper.
“In the last week, sellers have been complaining about the hike in the cost of transporting their goods.
“My experience in this weird week due to scarcity of petrol and power outage has been terrible.
“Transportation fares doubled because fuel scarcity made most drivers park their buses.
“And for the few drivers that were able to get PMS, they increased fares. However, I had no choice but to board their vehicles because I had to get to work. In just three days, I spent my two weeks transport fare.
“As regards electricity, we hardly have four hours of light in a day in my area. Most people now depend on fuel for domestic use and businesses.
“Yet, what amazes me is how we are paying bills as if we are in band A or B. This saddens my heart.”
A former Commissioner in Sokoto State, who was seen grappling to have a gallon of petrol for his car, blamed petroleum marketers in the state for the chaos.
“I am 74 years old but throughout my entire life, I have never witnessed this kind of fuel scarcity”, he said.
“Many people believe the situation was worsened because marketers were allegedly hoarding the product to create artificial scarcity and tension in the state.
“Government should wake up from slumber and deal with the situation even if it warrants revocating their C of Os to save the state from the shackles of the greed of few individuals.”
Meanwhile, succor may not come quickly going by a statement credited to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN.
The association had, on Monday, said the petrol scarcity could take more than two weeks to normalise.
IPMAN, through its Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike, said the product was not available in the country.
He said it has become a bit of a challenge to source the product because most refineries in Europe are undergoing turnaround maintenance.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu, during his inauguration on May 29, 2023, stopped payment of subsidy on PMS which sent the price skyrocketing from N185 to N600 or thereabouts per litre.
Today, findings by Sunday Vanguard reveal that petrol is sold for between N900 and N1, 300 per litre in the country.
The removal of petrol subsidy has impacted negatively on the socio-economic development of the country.
According to the National Bureau of Statistics, 133 million Nigerians are multi-dimensionally poor out of over 200 million citizens.
The high cost of living and other economic issues have combined to worsen the current situation, leading to an increase in the country’s poverty index.
The lack of job opportunities is at the core of the high poverty levels.