By Onyinyechi Ugwoke & Charles Edu
The fuel queues are still long in Nigeria’s commercial city, Lagos, and administrative capital, Abuja, while NNPC and four oil trading companies throw blames over the importation of the contaminated petrol.
IKEJABIRD reporters, Onyinyechi Ugwoke and Charles Edu, observed that some filling stations were locked down and only a few were selling PMS to customers. Furthermore, some gas stations have discontinued selling PMS in gallons.
“It is an order from management, not to sell to people in gallons. We only sell to those that have gallons in their car.” A fuel attendant in Maryland who pleaded anonymity said.
However, IkejaBird reporters observed that black market sellers beg motorists at the station to allow them put their gallons in their car booth to buy fuel.
A fuel attendant at Total filling station in Ikeja said, “fuel stations don’t sell to people in gallons because their queue causes traffic congestion on the roads and LASTMA officers always complain about that.”
When pressed further that black market sellers are seen coming out of the station with filled gallons of fuel, the attendant insisted that they do not sell in gallons or kegs.
The price of fuel as seen on the meter is 162 and 165 and the traffic congestion in some fuel stations has subsided. This was confirmed by IKEJABIRD on their visit to fuel stations in Maryland and Ikeja.
A black market seller, Kazeem said, they charge at the filling station 200, 500 or 1000 naira depending on the litre of gallon you are buying. “Like this 30 litres gallon I want to buy, they will charge 500 naira for it.”
Ibrahim said, “I sell 5 litres for 1500, that is how much we charge in this area, but I don’t know for other areas. We sell by the litres but if you are buying like 30 litres or more than that, some sell from 5500 naira upwards.”
In the wake of fuel scarcity, transporters spend hours in queues in Lagos, which causes traffic gridlock. When they emerge, they are wary of passengers who show even the tiniest proclivity to argue about the increased transportation fares. The reaction is often abrupt and laced with irritability.
As a result, commercial drivers have had to raise transportation fares in order to make a profit and compensate for the hours they spend in queues. Sylvia explained, “I boarded a bus from New Castle to Obalende, and when we offered the driver N200, he turned it down, claiming the fare was N400. Some passengers got off the bus in anger.”
“So I’ll go and queue up for hours at the filling station to buy fuel and still collect the usual transport fares?” one commercial driver asked.
Then there are those who peddle the priceless commodity in gallons and sell at exorbitant prices near the stations where frustrated Nigerians queue for fuel. Those who are pressed for time and impatient are forced to patronise them and part with large sums of money.
Speaking in a phone conversation the Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority LASTMA, Mr. Olumide Filade, says the organization is aware of traffic jams at fuel stations, “but we also try to detail officers to the areas where the stations are located so they can help control traffic to one lane.”
This country is frustrating; Fuel scarcity, terrible electricity, poor internet.
It’s really sad and disgusting that Nigeria keeps getting worse by the day. There is heavy fuel scarcity nation wide and NEPA isn’t making it easier
Fuel Scarcity in Nigeria would continue as long as no one gets punished for it.
#1500 for 5litres is better. At the Island it 2000 upwards.
So, the poor masses are the ones to buy from the black market. What a country!