Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder In Abuja, A Litre Sold For N300

Amidst repeated assurances from the authorities that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, has enough petroleum products to serve the entire nation for the next 39 days, the scarcity currently being experienced in the Federal Capital city has continued unabated. And as the scarcity bites harder, a fuel hawkers and black market operators are ripping residents off.

As at last night, a 10 litre gallon of premium motor spirit (fuel) sold for N3,000 (N300 per litre.) The situation worsened this morning.

Right in front of the NNPC Towers which houses the corporation’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, these ubiquitous fuel hawkers accost desperate motorists brandishing the scarce product in plastic kegs of various sizes without any fear of arrest.

Industry operators blame the Federal Government for the untold hardship being faced by the Federalc city dwellers. They pointed at the lingering faceoff between the Federal Government and members of the National Association of Road Transport Owners, NARTO, over the latter’s refusal to commence the application of the new freight rate.

The transporters are insisting that a 45% increment in their bill must be borne by the Federal Government as they insist that the soaring price of diesel required for powering their trucks for product distribution is eating deep into their budgets without adequate compensation from Government.

NARTO’s National Coordinator, Mr. Lawal Isa, blamed the Federal Government for the fuel crisis which resulted from the failure of government to implement the 45% increment agreed with his association.

There are also speculations that the scarcity was partly caused by the refusal of petroleum tanker drivers to supply fuel to the north because of the post-election violence.

The scarcity has spread to Benue State where a litre was sold for N90 on Monday.

As the scarcity persists, chaotic traffic situations occur along the city highways and adjoining road networks as long queues which started at all the fuel dispensing stations across the city since last Sunday, have continued to grow unabated.

Worste hit are roads within the Central Business District of the Abuja metropolis where major oil marketers have filling stations.

In front of the NNPC Towers, motorists getting into the city centre from Wuse District spend hours as the two filling stations operated by Conoil and Total oil companies are bursting on all sides with motorists competing for the elusive petroleum product.

At the NNPC Mega station, the hustling and bustling of motorists for the product has cut off the traffic flow coming from Wuse District to Garki District. This has brought untold hardship and pains to commuters going to their offices and business places in the morning.

As the situation persists, commuters and motorists have called on President Goodluck Jonathan who is currently at Obudu Ranch Resort in Cross River state, to intervene and resolve the crisis.

—Nnamdi Felix / Abuja