Fuel Scarcity Scare!

Fear of fuel scarcity grips Lagos

THE fear of petrol scarcity is heating up the Lagos metropolis again and the possibility of vehicle owners buying at higher prices and commuters paying more for transport fare, as against what they used to pay, is rising among Lagosians with the appearance of long queues in many filling stations.
 The fear was almost corroborated few days ago, when mini buses plying Oshodi-Mile 2 began to charge arbitrary fares.  Some of them suddenly raised the fare from Oshodi to Toyota that under normal circumstances would attract N50.00 to N100.00, leaving commuters who could not afford the fare stranded at the bus-stop.
  
The N150.00 fare to Mile Two was equally raised to N200.00 with commuters who were caught unawares co-operating not to enter the buses.
  Of course, the sudden change and increase in fares turned out to be a big surprise.  While those who were in a hurry and without an option rushed to enter, those who did not prepare for the sudden change began to complain and had to wait till they were able to find those vehicles that would charge regular fares.
   “What is happening again and why this sudden increase. We know we are always at the mercy of these transporters, but at least, reasons should be advanced for the sudden increase in transport fare.”
   “I am not prepared for this and so would have to wait until I can find someone who would be considerate enough to accept what I have.  Candidly, I did not budget for this,” a commuter began to murmur.
  As at yesterday, when The Guardian went round to investigate the situation of things, it was discovered that some filling stations were not actually selling despite the fact that entrances to their filling stations were opened.  Paradoxically, few that were selling instead of having the usual long queue at their feeling stations had scanty buyers.

  At Majok Oil Limited, Ladipo, Oshodi, it was as if the attendants were on holiday as the entrances to the filling station were left open without a single buyer inside.  Yet, the usual signboard turning back buyers was not displayed.

  Around the Ikeja area only the FP filling station on Airport Road was dispensing fuel and car owners passing through the station quickly grabbed the opportunity to stop over and buy fuel, as the queue was already building up.

   At YTK Petroleum, Oshodi, few buyers were noticed with attendants dispensing fuel to them.
  At Adonai Petroleum Station, Charity, Oshodi, vehicles were being turned back that there was no fuel, while the attendants converged at a point where diesel was being sold.
  Speaking to The Guardian, one of the female attendants said that they had no fuel and she could not tell when they will get fresh supply.
   She, however, said that diesel was available that petrol was the problem.
 The Guardian also visited Fortex Oil Petrol Station where scanty vehicles were being attended to in the station.
  When asked to comment on the looming scarcity, another male attendant who would not reveal his name said: “Indeed, there was scarcity.  What you see us selling is our new supply.”
   Transport fare from Iyana Ipaja to Oshodi as at yesterday still remained at the normal rate and the BRT popularly known as “Fashola” were still charging their normal fare of N70.00 to Oshodi, the mini buses that used to charge N100.00 to Oshodi were still collecting the normal fare, too.
   But a female private car owner, who felt the pinch of the scarcity yesterday, feared that if the situation continues like that today things might become worse.
    “I went round all the filling stations where I used to buy fuel but all their gates were locked in the Agege and Ikeja area, but I was lucky to join the queue that was just building up at the FP filling station on Airport Road to buy fuel. I hope this situation does not continue like this, otherwise it is going to bring more hardship on commuters and car owners alike.”

Culled from Guardian Newspaper