By Anu Smith
Motorists and commuters in Ibadan are having a hard time going about their daily lives as gridlock occasioned by fuel scarcity hinders vehicular movement.
Speaking REPORTERS AT LARGE in Ibadan on Tuesday, Mr Sanni Olatunde, a worker with a private organisation said nobody knew the cause of the fuel scarcity and it has been a great cause of concern as every aspect of my work is being affected.
“Different filling stations sell at different prices per litre and there has been no regulator to enforce the official rate.
“We are fed up because we have to queue for a long time to get the commodity,” Olatunde said.
Miss Opeyemi Oyewole, a doctoral student at the University of Ibadan said the scarcity has affected the prices of transportation and with the present economic hardship, it has further worsened the already bad situation.
“The amount of money I spent on transportation has increased by 50 per cent; and you would even struggle to get commercial vehicles to take you because many of them are looking for fuel.
“We hope a lasting solution would be proffered soon as we enter the yuletide,” Oyewole said.
Also, Mr Sola Famakinwa, said he struggled to get fuel into his car as he has to take his children to school who are presently writing their examinations.
According to him, the situation is getting worse by the day and it seems the government deliberately kept mute on it so as to completely remove fuel subsidy.
Mr Laolu Olabode,, a civil servant said he has been at a filling station since early morning and there was a long queue as early as 7:30 am.
He noted that many people traveling were mostly at the receiving end of the scarcity.
“We just hope for respite soon. Let the government come clean and make life comfortable for the citizens.
“The electricity from the national grid is not there, what people use as an alternative to survive is Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) and that too is getting out of the reach of common Nigerians.
“We need speedy answers from the Nigerian Government and that should be quick too,” Mimiola said.
Most filling stations sell above N220 per litre up to like N250, while some stations like SAO stations sell at N200 per litre and BOVAS at N180 per litre.
