By  CHARLES ADINGUPU
From the mainland to the highland, it  was a tale of woes as most filling stations were shut to customers. Though, fuel attendants were seen standing on-guard at their duty post but not dispensing the product.

Though, the major cause of the partial scarcity is still shrouded in heresies. But the acting spokesman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Fidel Pepple, blamed the situation on the damaged corporation’s pipeline by oil vandals at Arepo in Ogun State.

The NNPC spokesperson stated that the corporation is yet to fix the damaged pipeline following the killing of some of their officers by suspected bunkers deployed to effect repairs.

This development, Pepple said compelled the corporation to bridge products by trucks as against the pipeline.

But beyond this explanation, speculations were rife that the situation may degenerate  as most major oil marketers refused to import fuel following the subsidy claims controversy they were embroiled in with the federal government.

However, in Lagos, none of the filling stations’ managers were willing to comment on the situation. As at Monday morning, it has become glaring to Lagosians again, that the battle for fuel has began in earnest as the usual long queues were noticed at most filling stations that agreed to dispense the product.

Ikorodu Axis

As at last Sunday evening, virtually a handful of filling stations were sighted dispensing the product to motorists. But in Owode, Ajegunle, prospective buyers were disappointed as the filling stations in the area were closed to customers. A teenager who identified himself as Nnamdi expressed surprise at the sudden scarcity of fuel in the area and wondered if the situation was the same in the entire Lagos metropolis.

“My uncle sent me to buy fifteen litres of fuel to power our generator as we cannot store the product but all the filling stations were closed, not even the NNPC filling station at Novel drugs bus stop was opened to customers,” Nnamdi said.

Like the Nnamdi, other teenagers and adults alike were seen clutching different sizes of jerry cans  searching for the product to power their generator as the community has been plunged into perpetual darkness for almost three months.

As at Monday morning, the situation assumed a different dimension as all the filling stations in Ikorodu axis were shut. Again, the fuel attendants were on guard but not on duty.

By Tuesday, only few filling stations agreed to sell to customers while others maintained their hard stance ostensibly for pecuniary reasons.  Ikorodu residents had to journey to Maryland and Anthony before they could get fuel to buy.

Saturday Vanguard investigations showed that the few filling stations which dispensed fuel only had just one or two of their pumping machines working while customers groaned under long queues. Beside, the attendants were requesting for pecks before fuel would be sold to anyone buyer.

A motorist who refused to part with some amount of money aside the cost of the litre of fuel purchased was not attended to. The young man who later identified himself simply as Bode, wondered why  the extra payment.

“If they (Federal government or oil marketers) want to increase the pump price of fuel why not do it instead of this under-hand dealings,” he said.

According to investigations, the amount of money requested for as gratifications depends largely on the litres of fuel bought. For 20 to 50 litres of fuel, customers were expected to pay N200) as pecks. But for 50 litres and above, the sum of N300 is requested as pecks.   The fuel attendants made more money from those buying with jerry cans.

Apart from the filling station at Palm Groove in Onipan, the other filling stations along the Ikorodu axis were under lock and key as at last Thursday.

However, as at yesterday, Friday, some of the filling stations have stated dispensing the product with caution as only two pumping machines were functional.

Surulere

At Ojuelegba, the filling stations were completely closed. But feelers showed that they were operational at night. Some of the fuel attendants declined comment. But a security officer to one of the filling station who refused to keep sealed lips disclosed to Saturday Vanguard that they dispensed fuel only in the evenings at extra cost to the consumers.

However, at Lawson, the filling stations were selling fuel at N130 per litre. Though, they did not adjust their machines, but the cost was calculated with biro and paper. A visibly angry fuel attendant responded this way when queried why the sudden jerk in the pump price of fuel.

“Oga nobody is forcing anybody to buy at this rate. If you have a choice, then, go there and let us be,” he said.

A young man  who gave his names as Justin Nwafor, said the case of  those buying in jerry cans are even worse as they were forced to buy at the rates of between N140 and N150 per litre.

“I operate a business centre and need fuel to power my generator. I don’t know how much to charge for a page of photo-copy if I buy a litre of fuel at N140, he queried.

Yet another angry buyer on the queue who gave his name as Innocent urged the government to be transparent in its dealings with the citizens.

“It the federal government want  to withdraw subsidy completely from petroleum product, let them come out and say so instead of this shoddy dealings marketers  indulge in. Nigerians are already confused because marketers and federal government were busy trading blames while the masses suffer.

Only God knows whose interest those behind this current scarcity are serving,” he said.

Other suburbs tucked in Surulere, the story is the same as all the filling stations visited were hoarding the product.

Island, Lekki, and Ajah

Although the situation at Island became pronounced on Tuesday as the filling stations at Awolowo Way and environs were shut but by the next day, Wednesday, some were opened to customers, again, with just four out of the ten pumping machines dispensing fuel.

A banker who gave his name as Demiji, said he left his car at his office for fear that his fuel tank may run dry on his way home.

Demiji who blamed the partial fuel scarcity in Lagos on marketers who want to maximize profit, lamented that the regulatory agency saddled with responsibility of ensuring that fuel is dispensed and sold at appropriate price seems to abandoned their duty. Hence, all these illegalities by these filling stations.

“Who will check them? They have fuel but sell whenever they are ready to do so. Often times, they engaged in this sharp practice whenever they anticipate increment in pump price of fuel by the federal government in order to make outrageous  profit,” he said.

As at yesterday, all but the NNPC Mega filling station at the Island was consistent in dispensing fuel to motorists without gratifications.

But at the Lekki, Ajah axis, virtually all the filling stations in these vicinity were  operational on full time. Available report states that filling stations throughout the week sold fuel at no additional cost.

A motorist who ply the Lekki, Ajah axis and would not want his name in print, said that when abnormal situation  is normal, one has to watch it as there might be a foul play somewhere.

“That the filling station attendants were not asking for pecks like their contemporaries at the Mainland does not mean that all is well. But how can you be so sure that the 10 litre fuel dispensed in your car is actually 10 litres. We all know these things but choose to ignore them. It could be possible that the quantity of fuel sold here may likely not correspond with the amount of money purchased. So, one needs to be careful, he said.

However, as at yesterday afternoon, the long queues noticed at some of the filling stations have started disappearing. But investigations showed that most of the filling stations operate at minimum hours.

Apapa area

The industrial layout,Apapa has its share of pain when the fuel scarcity began last Monday. Most filling stations were shut. But the day after, some started to resume operation but not in full capacity as only two pumping machines dispensed fuel to the long queue of motorists anxiously waiting to buy the product.

From Wharf to Mile 2 only two filling stations were seen dispensing fuel to motorists and other buyers with jerry cans. Not even the filling station adjacent to Berger Yard sold fuel all through the week.

Orile, Badagry

The situation was not better either in these localities as filling stations in Orile down to Mile 2 indulged in the same sharp practice of dispensing the product with just two pumping machines.

Saturday Vanguard investigations showed that the situation was entirely different on the first day of the scarcity. The filling stations were closed. But on the third day, skeletal services were rendered to customers but not without parting with a token to the attendants.

At Festac, Okomaiko, down to Agbara, the story was not different either as motorists and other users of the product groaned under the yoke of the partial scarcity of fuel.

Ironically in Badagry, the product was readily available but at N140 per litre. The filling stations were opened to customers but dispensed fuel at outrageous price per litre.

However, a general survey by Saturday Vanguard showed that fuel crisis situation is gradually returning to normal. But filling station owners who still harbor the fear of sudden increase in pump price of the product seem adamant  in running their stations in full capacity. There is every likelihood that the situation may improve today if report reaching the press, that the federal government has put machinery in motion to check the menace.