Fuel scarcity: Black marketers are kings

Labour: Enough of orchestrated hardships
Nigerians are now groaning in pains as fuel scarcity continues to bite harder, Nigerians are finding it extremely difficult to move from one city to another.

Selling of fuel at black market continued unabated as a litre now goes for between N250 and N350 at petrol stations while four litre Jerry can of fuel goes for between N3000 and N5000 at the black market depending on bargain and areas of availability.

Yesterday, most commuters were stranded at bus stops across Lagos following the disappearance of Commercial vehicles from the streets as a result of the shortage of fuel in the country.

Some trekked long distances to get to their destinations while some private car owners converted their vehicles into commercial vehicles in order to make brisk business.

The fuel scarcity has equally jerked up transport fares as commercial vehicles charged exorbitant fares. From Lagos to Onitsha which used to cost N4000 now goes for N10000.

At the Delta line station Dopemu, passengers were stranded as only one Toyota hiace bus was on ground to contended with over 30 passengers.

The situation was not different in all other motor parks across Lagos state.

Transportation within the Lagos metropolis was also tripped while people were also stranded.

Most Nigerians who spoke to Daily Times expressed disappointment over the inability of the government to bring the ugly fuel situation to other.

The government had last week vowed to end the fuel scarcity weekend saying there was enough product to go round.

Meanwhile, domestic airlines in the country have systematically increased fares as a result of passenger upsurge

Airline fares have risen from between N18000 and N28000 to N45000 economy class. An airline staff who pleaded anonymity told Daily Times that it was adjusted due to high traffic.

Mr Jack Tonye, described the situation as sad, suffering and smiling in the midst of plenty, urging the government to come to the aid of Nigerians by making resources that will improve on their lots available.

He lamented that the Christmas was a bleak one for so many families as the government has induced poverty on the citizens.

Meanwhile,‎ the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Trade Union Congress (TUC) and the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) ‎ has decried the current suffering and pains of Nigerians as a result of the persistent and unjustified fuel scarcity.

The National President of NUPENG, Comrade Igwe Achese ‎ decried what he called, incessant fuel scarcity, which has resulted to long queues, loss of man-hours and endless search for the products.

‎”The scarcity has further worsened the sufferings of its citizens through increase in transport fares, rising pricing of goods and services as we approach the Christmas festivities.”

He called on the government to quickly address the situation instead of trading blames when the depots are dry.

Achese stated that it was a national shame and embarrassment for the citizens to celebrate the Christmas under this kind of atmosphere when Nigeria is the seventh largest producer of crude oil.

“NUPENG reiterated the need for the federal government; Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the NNPC to tell the nation what is actually happening, as the two labour unions in the sector are not on strike.”

“It therefore called on the Federal government to implore the appropriate bodies to flood the nation with petroleum products as we enter the year 2018 as stop gap measure.

“The nation’s four refineries must be revamped to reduce the pressure on foreign exchange for importation of petroleum products from abroad.

However, Comrade Bobboi Bala Kaigama
President, TUC‎, said, “travelling is microcosmic component of the Christmas celebration. Unfortunately it has become almost impossible for people to visit their loved ones because of the yearly hike of price of fuel.

“Sometimes one wonders why everything that tends to bring joy to the ordinary masses are always denied them.

“Every Christmas season, the price of fuel must hit the roof tops; and nobody will say anything let alone do something about it, irrespective of the ripple effect it will have on other commodities (especially food).”

The National President, PENGASSAN, Francis Johnson, said that the ‎main reason for the ‎scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol is the hoarding and diversion by oil marketers who are pushing for an increase in the price of the commodity.

It specifically stated that dealers under the aegis of the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria, Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association, as well as the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria were all involved in the hoarding and diversion of the product, a development that further worsened the scarcity of the product across the country.

On his part, ‎the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha has assured Nigerians that the Federal Government is not contemplating any form of hike in the pump price of petroleum products.

Mustapha disclosed this at the handing over ceremony of the mantle of leadership as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Inland Waterways Authority ( NIWA) at the authority’s headquarters in Lokoja.

He said that the fuel scarcity being experienced in the country over the last two weeks was being addressed by relevant agencies of government adding that the long queues would ease off soon.

The SGF attributed the scarcity to greed on the part of the marketers who created artificial shortfall to make profits.

Mustapha lamented the attitude of some Nigerians who derive pleasure from seeing others suffer by inflicting pains on the people adding that it was unfair and ungodly for marketers to take advantage of the rush by the people to celebrate Christmas and New Year.

“I can assure the people that a day or two after the yuletide, the queue will ease out. The marketers created the scarcity but we have engaged all the relevant stakeholders and we are confident that it will soon normalise.‎

Following increasing pains Nigerians go through daily and the growing economic challenges, the International Mometary Fund (IMF) has said though Nigeria exited the recession, but the economy remains vulnerable, necessitating the need to get the economy back on track.

Macroeconomic and structural reforms remain urgent to contain vulnerability and support sustainable private sector led growth, the IMF said.

The IMF, in a statement on Friday by the Communication Officer, Laraba Bonet, said that an IMF staff team led by Amine Mati disclosed during a visit to Nigeria December 6-20, 2017 to conduct the 2018 Article IV consultation.

Following the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Mati, Senior Resident Representative and Mission Chief for Nigeria at the IMF, issued the following statement:

“Overall growth is slowly picking up, but recovery remains challenging. Economic activity expanded by 1.4 percent year-on-year in the third quarter of 2017—the second consecutive quarter of positive growth after five quarters of recession—driven by recovering oil production and agriculture.

But the Fund said it welcomed actions to improve the power sector and business environment under the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan.

Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo, Joy Ekeke, Lagos and Mathew Dadiya, Abuja