*Fuel hawkers in business thanks to persistent scarcity

By Bose Adebayo

When most filling stations began to experience long queues in the last quarter of last year, commuters and motorists had thought that the problem would not extend into the new year.

But to their dismay, most motorists found themselves spending a greater part of the new year celebration in search of fuel. And the scarcity still continues to linger as there is presently no sign when it would subside.

A visit to most bus-stops in Lagos today can only but suggest that hard time awaits many commuters if fuel marketers and government do not find a lasting solution to the lingering fuel crisis.

The problem started with daily long queues at most filling stations which usually spilled to the highways, causing traffic bottle-necks with road users having to spend hours on the road before reaching their various destinations. But it was boon time for fuel hawkers at various locations as they were seen with different sizes of jerry-cans  dispensing fuel at exorbitant prices.

Vanguard Metro can authoritatively confirm that the price of petrol has skyrocketed from the official price of N65 to between N85 and N100 per litre. A recent survey revealed that some filling stations were under lock and key while others were seen dispensing the product at inflated prices. Street urchins popularly called area boys were also seen hanging around the various filling stations with different sizes of jerry cans.

Some of them who spoke with this reporter  said they are praying that the price of the commodity would not return to its official rate of N65. “People like us will never have access to the product unless it is scarce. Our own is to tell the manager how much we want to buy and he has no choice than to cooperate,” a street urchin who pleaded anonymity said.

At Palmgrove for instance, a car owner who ran out of fuel while driving on the expressway was confronted by a hawker who dispensed about seven litres of the product at an outrageous amount of N1,400.

Vanguard Metro also  observed that many commuters were left with the choice of either waiting endlessly at the bus-stops or paying exorbitant fares before they get to their various locations.

There were also long queues at most BRT terminals just as luxury bus terminals  experienced large turn out of commuters at areas like Mile 12, Oshodi, Obalende, Ikotun, Iyana-Ipaja, Sango-Toll gate, Onipanu and Yaba.

A trip from Oshodi to Agbado-Ijaye now attracts between N200 and N300 as against N150 before the fuel crisis. At Cele Express way, commercial drivers now charge a minimum of N150 for a trip to Ikotun or Ejigbo as opposed to the former fare of N100 while it now takes a minimum of N100 from Onipanu to Oyingbo as against the previous fare of N70.

A trip from Oshodi to Ikorodu now goes for a minimum of N150 while that of Iyana-Ipaja to Yaba now costs N250 while that of Oshodi to Victoria Island goes forN350.

Some commuters who spoke with this reporter called on government to issue licenses to some Nigerians who are qualified to run private refineries. “Look at the GSM business in Nigeria, a lot of people have suffered in the hands of MTN and V-Mobile before the advent of Glo. You can imagine how painful it was to buy a handset at the rate of N100,000. Thank God for Glo who came to break their gimmicks and today, you can buy one at the rate of N1,000 depending on your choice,” said Alex Ezekiel.

“This suffering is too much for us. I live at Egbeda while I work at CMS. I spend a minimum of N850 on daily basis to and from my residence. Government could have allowed private refineries in this country; if this has taken place, the price of fuel would have dropped like that of GSM. Government should allow people to compete for refineries so that this kind of hardship will come to an end,” said Hakeem Abodunrin.

“I travelled to my home town in Ondo State with my car last week and ended up buying N10,000 worth of fuel. This is ridiculous, it means I don’t have to travel home all the time if I don’t want to run into debt,” said Mr. Ojo Adekunle.

Some consumers who bought the product for home use said they were compelled to part with a sum of  N50 or N100 before they could do so.

The fuel crisis had also made the three wheelers drivers popularly called Marwa operators to increase their fares for different routes.