Unending energy crisis: Our woes

From Charity Nwakaudu, Abuja

motorists and commuters in Abuja have continued to count their losses over the persisting fuel scarcity resulting in hike in transport fare. The crisis has caused long gridlock around fuel stations as motorists queue for hours to buy petrol at the few stations dispensing products.

Long queues have been building up at many petrol stations in Abuja for some weeks now. Only very few fuel stations dispensed petrol on the approved prices while others sold based on location and number of buyers available leading to increase in transportation fare.

A commercial driver, Chinedu Ibe, said: “This increase in transportation fare is because of fuel scarcity. I don’t waste my time in fuel stations because the last time I did it took the whole day before it got to my turn.

“I normally buy “black market” which is being sold between N10,000 and N11,000 for 10 litres and oil that was sold for N4500 is now from N15,000. After buying at that amount it is very difficult to convey commuters with the old fare because everyone needs to make profits.

“As it is now, we don’t have fixed amount for fare. It varies based on how one buys fuel. Even with the increase I am not really making anything from it, many private owners are now into the business to support themselves on their way to work.

“It is very difficult to see car owners in the FCT who do not carry passengers while going to work. It has really crippled the business. I can’t blame them because their salaries in the present economy can’t fuel their cars.

“Due to this price of petrol, some have packed their cars and have resolved to using commercial buses. The price moved from N500 to N800, for Wuse to Kubwa, Dulse. Places that were being paid N200 before is now N400. Even with these increments, there is still nothing to take home.”

Another taxi driver, Ernest Adah, said the struggle to get fuel has denied him passengers on several occasions: “Passengers angrily discontinued their journey when I turned to a filling station to get fuel. It was because I saw the queue wasn’t long and on good price.

“Some passengers don’t have money and when you insist on the increased price most of them can’t afford it. We try to encourage them and ourselves by joining the long queue to reduce price. Most of my passengers go down anytime I join the queue.

“The hike in transportation fare is not our fault. We sleep at petrol stations just because we want to buy fuel and do our business. Things are hard and people should understand it is not our faults.

“This fuel that I’m using to work, I went as far as Wuye to buy. This was after spending over six hours at the station in Berger before I got information that a petrol station in Wuye was free and selling at the official rate with good pump.

“So, put your self in the position of we transporters. After spending hours, some days you expect us to still work with the old prices? It won’t work because our families will need to eat. We also go to markets like others, it is from your produce that we are able to buy from others.”

Another taxi driver, Mohammed Bello, said: “Because of this increase in transportation, cost of everything in the market is high, Meat is N6000 per kilo. The smallest Titus fish is N1,700, the smallest sardine is N700, ponmo is N350 per one.

“Garri that was once referred to as poor man’s food is now N1,000 to N1,200 per mudu. Rice is N3,000 and above. Looking at all these, it is becoming very difficult to feed the family properly.”

A driver plying Berger to Lugbe lamented: “This is no longer funny. I had to pay N15,000 for 10 litres because it was late and the location I found myself wasn’t good. With this now, if I don’t increase the fare where will I get my money from?”

A tricycle rider, Lawrence: “With the increased transportation fare, many commuters are now trekking. For we in the Keke business we make our money from along. Nobody is ready to pay N100 instead of the former N50. So it has really affected our take-home.” Another tricycle rider said: “The distances we used to collect N200 is now N400. We are still finding it difficult to make even the money we have put into the business because many people are now trekking.”

A housewife, Amina Ali, said: “Things are very difficult these days especially in Abuja, the cost of transportation is too high. My budget was that I would spend even less than N500. But I ended up spending N1,500 just from Wuse Market to NBC Century House, 33, Lusaka Street, Wuse Zone 6, which is even walk able.”

A commuter, Joy Amos, complained: “It is affecting everyone, not only drivers. I’m tired, you come out everyday and the fare keeps changing. One can no longer come out without proper planning. The other day I paid N800 from Kubwa to Berger, today it is N1,000. It is frustrating and I am even tired.

“For some of us doing all these roadside jobs, it is really very difficult to feed because cost of everything is high. The Federal Government has to act very fast to reduce these sufferings before things get out of control. Nigerians are tired of the blame game on logistics.