As the fuel scarcity bites harder across the country, vehicle owners have been abandoning their vehicles and opting for public transportation.
Investors King reports that some other Nigerians, especially civil servants have resigned to fate by trekking to work while others who could afford skyrocketing transport fares were moving around in public vehicles.
Findings across some states revealed that a litre of Premium Motor Spirit, popularly known as petrol, was being sold between N280 and N350.
This came as downstream petrol marketers have blamed the Nigerian National Petroleum Commission (NNPC) for only selling the petroleum products for private depots owners and ignoring retailers whose numerical strength outweighs that of the major marketers.
The scarcity is worsened because most filling stations were not operating while the few that are selling the product are struck with long queues, fighting and bribery.
At various Government Secretariats and other offices checked by Investors King, it was observed that the parking spaces were not filled with vehicles as it was usually done.
A civil servant who did not want his name mentioned lamented the fuel scarcity and hike in fuel price saying, “I have no choice than to keep my vehicle at home. My office doesn’t want to listen to excuse of wasting time at filing stations in search of fuel. So, I have to opt for public vehicle so that I won’t be sacked.”
Meanwhile, some aggrieved Nigerians have staged protests over fuel scarcity and the expensive prices of fuel and called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to find a lasting solution to the challenge.
The protesters blocked the Lagos Benin Expressway at Oluku Junction in expression of their displeasure, saying that hike in fuel is contributing negatively to skyrocketing prices of food items.
Many commuters and other road users were stranded during the demonstration as the busy road was totally blocked for hours.
“We can’t continue to experience this pain. We are tired. Government should find lasting solution to this issue. We are here just to let the world know that we are not happy and this fuel scarcity is really affecting us negatively. Enough is enough,” one of the protesters said.
There was no vehicular movement when the protesters, mostly youths, stormed the road.
Meanwhile, commercial motorists have been warned against steps they take in a bid to minimize the fuel consumption of their vehicles which could lead to loss of lives and property.
Speaking, the Executive Secretary, Office Of Transportation, Engr. Bilal Adiat said because petrol is scarce and expensive, hence commercial motorists are now improvising ways of reducing the fuel consumption of their vehicles so as to maximize profit.
Bilal said most of the steps taken by the commercial drivers are against the mechanical set-up of the vehicles which could lead to fire disaster and loss of lives and properties, urging for both motorists and Nigerians at large to be wary of the dangers inherent in keep fuel in gallons.
