Fuel Crisis Worsens in Northern Nigeria, Motorists Decry Hike in Prices
By Sakeenah Abdullateef
The fuel scarcity in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina States on Tuesday took a turn for the worse with motorists groaning under the weight of skyrocketing prices.
The commodity is now selling for between N800 to N1,000 per liter, a development that has left many stranded.
Most major and independent marketers have shut down their filling stations, while petrol black marketers are having a field day, selling a 4-liter gallon for between N5,000 to N6,000.
Motorists are at their wit’s end, lamenting the negative impact of the scarcity on their daily activities.
“We are very dismayed as the obnoxious situation has negatively affected our activities,” said one motorist.
Salisu Baso, a civil servant, is unhappy about the extra financial burden the scarcity has placed on him. “I have to pay double the transport fare I was hitherto paying to reach my office at the Federal Secretariat, Kawo-Kaduna. We don’t even know who is right now.”
He lamented further, “Is it the government or the marketers? It is very unfortunate that they are just passing the buck. But, in whatever case, an urgent action should be taken to redress the ugly situation that is jeopardising socio-economic activities in the country.”
Franscisca Idika, a trader at the Chechnya market in Kaduna, said the lingering petrol scarcity and soaring prices have badly affected her business.
“I have to pay more now to reach the market, and we just have to increase the prices of our wares to break even.”
Reports from Kano and Katsina States also revealed a similar disheartening situation, with motorists queuing for hours to get fuel.
Alao Jaremi, an IT expert in Katsina, called on the authorities concerned to take urgent measures to ensure the availability of petrol across the country.
“We need the government to swing into action and do the needful to alleviate the suffering of the hapless Nigerians.”
Ibrahim Dan-Musa, another motorist, echoed the call. “We need the government to take urgent measures to ensure the availability of petrol across the country.”
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the scarcity to a thunderstorm that disrupted ship-to-ship loading, while marketers claimed they couldn’t access the NNPCL portal to place orders.
The situation is jeopardising socio-economic activities in the country, and citizens are urging the government to take decisive action to address the fuel crisis.