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By Oluseye Ojo
Two days to the 2023 Christmas Day, Nigerians are facing the harrowing effects of naira and fuel scarcity. The situation has greatly affected the joy and merriment typically associated with this time of the year.
In many states as well as the Federal Capital Territory, there are lamentations that, coupled with the high costs of food items and other essential items, there are long fuel queues, even as the prices of premium motor spirit (petrol) have hit an all-time high. To worsen the situation, bank customers are finding it hard getting cash from the banking halls, even as the automated teller machines (ATMs) no longer dispense cash.
ABUJA
In Abuja, FRED ITUA reports that residents groan under the twin challenge of scarcity of naira notes and fuel queues. A visit to over 10 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) revealed the sorry situation many residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) grapple with.
The residents pay exorbitant charges to operators of Point of Sale (PoS) to get funds. For as low as N5,000, people pay as high as N300.
Long fuel queues have also returned to the FCT. In some stations, a litre sell for as high as N670. Only NNPC outlets sell for N617.
Soaring prices of food items ahead of Christmas celebration are not left off the list of biting challenges facing residents of the FCT.
LAGOS
In Lagos, NGOZI NWOKE, also reported that people have been paying extra charges to withdraw money from the PoS operators as well as paying higher cost of transportation.
Reports from petrol stations showed that the fuel prices ranged between N600 and N650. The scarcity has led to long queues and an increase in the cost of transportation.
Israel Ekong, a taxi driver in Ikeja, and another taxi driver, simply identified as Osas, said the fuel scarcity has become intense, especially during the festive season.
Mrs. Abike Ojo, who usually patronise Uber rides, lamented that she paid N9,500 from Ikeja to Victoria Island, which used to cost N3,600.
Residents of Lagos also pay higher charges to withdraw money from PoS operators. These days, many pay N200 to withdraw N5,000.
A PoS operator, Ifeanyi Chinwendu, said: “We cannot be blamed for the extra charges. We also pay for the withdrawal. To withdraw N300,000, you have to pay N5,000 withdrawal charges. After all the target of every business is to make profit.”
ANAMBRA
The high cost of essential goods and services, according to a report filed by our correspondent. ALOYSIUS ATTAH from Onitsha in Anambra State, might make the Christmas celebrations a bleak one for many residents of the state.
When the correspondent went round Onitsha two days ago, many filling stations did not have fuel, while those who opened for business sold for between N680 and N700 per litre.
Majority of the banks visited from Nkpor, Old and New Market Road, Onitsha, Onitsha-Owerri Road, among others, recorded long queues of customers trying to withdraw money from the Automated Teller Machines (ATM), but most of the machines were without cash. Withdrawals inside banks are rationed so that the cash could go round.
The PoS operators have also increased charges on withdrawals. Before now, N20,000 withdrawals used to attract charges of N200. Presently, the operators charge between N200 and N500, depending on the location.
A PoS operator, Amaka Olembe, told the reporter that herself and other PoS operators now pay higher through their sources in banks to raise cash for their business.
It was further gathered that those who sell new naira notes and semi-fresh notes in various markets charge as high as N15,000 to give a customer N10,000.
A resident, Chikezie Ulogu, who reflected on the situation, said he cancelled his initial plan of travelling home with his entire family because a charter vehicle to his village in Ibeku, Umuahia South of Abia State, which used to gulp less than N40,000, now costs nothing less than N100,000.
OYO
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, OLUSEYE OJO, who visited some places reported that as the clock ticks to December 25th, fuel scarcity has added to the plight of residents. Long queues have been witnessed at fuel stations, with people spending hours waiting to refill their tanks. Price of the commodity per litre ranged from N590 to N660, depending on the station. The scarcity of cash is another thorn in the flesh of Ibadan residents.
The opinion poll conducted among different set of people in the city showed that many commercial banks have programmed their ATMs not to dispense more than N10,000 for one card. But majority of the ATMs did not have cash. The PoS operators charge N200 to withdraw N5,000, instead of N100 they use to collect and either N300, or N400 for withdrawal of N10,000, which used to be N200.
KANO
In Kano State, DESMOND MGBOH, reported that there was apparently no case of fuel scarcity in the state, but the price of the product hovers from N670 to N700, depending on the filling station.
Saturday Sun gathered that as at Monday and Tuesday this week, a seat on a luxury bus from Kano to the South East stood at N27,000 to N30,000.
Anthony Agbo, a resident of the state stressed that, “We have decided not to go home, something we had done regularly in the last 10 years. It is really strange.”
Madam Ada Ndinolo, a stylist along Burma Road, Kano, lamented that if not that she was travelling for the burial of her dad during this holiday, she would have cancelled the journey.
“I bought just two seats at N60,000 for myself, my husband and my three children. I wondered how we would manage. But I can’t afford more seats”
RIVERS
From Port Harcourt, the capital of Rivers State, TONY JOHN, gave a situation report on the cash and fuel scarcity in the state.
According to the report, the festive mood is quite high in Port Harcourt, now that the state Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has approved N100,000 as Christmas bonus for each of the civil servants in the state.
In Port Harcourt and its environs, there was availability of fuel, though with different pump prices.
The second hand clothes and shoes market at the Flyover Park was booming at the time this correspondent visited the facility.
