Nigerians to Buhari: It’s time to end fuel scarcity

.President orders clampdown on hoarders

·Enough of hardships, Labour warns

Like a nagging sore on the finger, the ongoing scarcity of petroleum products has refused to go, but instead, it has continued to visit homes, offices, businesses with impactful pains and another round of bleak future.

Despite the assurance given by President Muhammadu Buhari to end the scarcity soon, getting fuel at filling station has become a mirage.

Despite the assurances given by the Federal Government through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and other relevant government agencies and individuals, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) that measures had been enunciated and put on the ground to end the scarcity, days after, and like a raging wild fire, the scarcity has continued unabated.

Across the 36 states and particularly in Nigeria’s major cities and Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, scenes of long queues of vehicles, pushing and hissing by desperate Nigerians, who now spend hours at the various filling stations, has continued to dot the landscapes.

Coming during the Yuletide period, many feared that the crisis, which had resurfaced again similar to what Nigerians had been facing over the past 40 years, starting from the Military era of General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd), late General Sani Abacha, to their current civilian inheritors, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the late Umaru Yar’Adua and former President Goodluck Jonathan, could crawl into the New Year, 2018, thus further compounding Nigeria’s economic woes.

The Daily Times recalls that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently appraised Nigerian economy, warning that though we may have exited recession, there are clear signs of vulnerability to hiccups in the coming years, if not well managed.

Nigeria, Africa’s largest crude oil producer, which only recently edged its greatest competitor, Angola, to the second place, and member of the international oil cartel, Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, is a paradox of sort.

With a projected daily production of 2.3 million per barrel, revenues from oil export had, over the years, become the mainstay of the economy.

In the 2018 Budget presented to the joint session of the National Assembly early in November, President Buhari has projected an oil benchmark of $ 45 b/d, and was later raised to $47 by the House of Representatives; yet Nigerians continue to suffer untold hardships as a result of the poor management of the sector.

Indeed, the crisis in the sector has been legion. Poor Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) of the refineries, corruption, outright theft, pipeline vandalisation by Niger Delta agitators and general insecurity in the region have added to the crises affecting the sector.

Despite several increases in pump prices of petroleum products over the years, before the current official pump price of N145 per litre for Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), Nigerians continue to face challenges.

The rot in the sector has led Nigeria to its knees. Years of corruption by successive regimes and their principal managers have made Nigeria worse. Also, the questionable role of Independent marketers, who, despite government support, have continued to sabotage the sector, causing artificial scarcity- hoarding and in fact, outright diversion of the products to neighbouring countries, like Niger, Benin Republic, among others, and left the country bleeding.

Just as it is happening now under the current regime, which came with its ‘Change Mantra’, Nigerians had gone through trauma. Accident cases, fire disasters, riots, etc had characterised Nigeria over the years. Thousands of people had been roasted alive, or become permanently disabled as a result of the rot in the system.

Now, Nigerians, who have been going through economic strangulation over the past two years of recession, thanks to our exiting the scourge according the report by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), are asking President Buhari to put a stop to this quagmire called petrol scarcity and for once save them from avoidable hunger, poverty and death.

Indeed, it took the intervention of the Federal Government, through the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Chris Nigige, to bring the petrol union, PENGASSAN to suspend their threat to go on strike. If the strike had not been aborted, by now, the nation would have been completely paralysed.

But it is not Uhuru yet, as reports across the country showed that the scarcity has assumed a more worsening dimension. Apart from the characteristically long queues that remained, black market operators now sell jerry cans of petrol at cut-throat rates. A 4-litre jerry can could go for prices ranging from N1, 500 –N2000, depending on the location across the country.

Again, due to this challenge, transport operators and other informal operators have hiked their prices by over 100 per cent. In most cities, long queues have caused not only traffic gridlock, but also accidents.

For example, an NNPC fuel marketing outlet at Adura Bust Stop on Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway, caught fire last Friday, and is currently under repair works. Other associated vices take place across the country, leaving Nigerians asking what has suddenly gone wrong with the administration that continually assured the people of better days ahead.

And as government officials and members of the National Assembly regaled in splendor, spending billions of tax payers’ money on exotic lifestyle, the masses are wallowing in pains and poverty, now exacerbated by crippling fuel crisis.

This is because one of our correspondents who monitored the situation across Lagos State painted a very gloomy picture of the situation.

According to the report, Nigerians are finding it extremely difficult to move from one city to another. Even the airlines are facing challenges as well, forcing them to hike fares.

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.

On Sunday, 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. Journey from Lagos to Onitsha, which used to cost N4,000 now goes for N10,000.

At the Delta Line Station, Dopemu, Lagos, passengers were stranded as only one Toyota Hiace bus was on ground to contend with over 30 passengers.

The situation was not different in all other motor parks across Lagos State. Transportat fare within the Lagos metropolis was also tripled, while people were also stranded.

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

The government had last week vowed to end the fuel scarcity by 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 N18,000 and N28,000 to N45,000 economy class. An airline official who pleaded anonymity told The Daily Times that it was adjusted due to high traffic.

Mr. Jack Tonye, who spoke at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, 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.

But President Buhari has ordered serious clampdown on marketers who are alleged to be hoarding the products with a view to making humongous profit. The president gave the order on Sunday in Abuja.

Buhari, while sympathising with Nigerians over their suffering occasioned by the scarcity of petrol across the country, reassured that the NNPC is on top of the situation.

The president, who was reacting to the long queues of motorists at various filling stations across the country, in a statement personally signed by him and posted on his twitter handle, said the scarcity was regrettable.

He stated that he was being briefed regularly on the matter by the NNPC and assured that the situation would improve positively in the next few days.

Buhari disclosed that he had already directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding of the products and price inflation by marketers.

His words: “The fuel scarcity being experienced nationwide is regrettable. I sympathise with all Nigerians on having to endure needless fuel queues.

“I’m being regularly briefed, especially on the NNPC’s interventions to ensure that there is enough petrol available during this period and beyond.

“I have the NNPC’s assurance that the situation will improve significantly over the next few days, as new shipments and supplies are distributed across the country.

“I have also directed the regulators to step up their surveillance and bring an end to hoarding and price inflation by marketers.

“Let me also assure that the relevant agencies will continue to provide updates on the situation. I thank you all for your patience and understanding.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Labour unions have spoken against the fuel crisis currently facing Nigerians.

In the midst of the unending debate,‎ 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) ‎ have 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, frowned at the incessant fuel scarcity which has resulted to long queues, loss of man-hours and endless search for products.

‎he said, “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 federal 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,” he added.

But 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 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 anniversary of the birth of the Lord Jesus Christ should exude peace, joy, happiness, etc, and not the pains and agonies we have known over the years. Rice, the common staple food for the celebration, has become unaffordable, worsening the misery of Nigerians. Millions of jobs have been lost and even those working are still earning what they used to earn when dollar was N150. Inflation rate is alarming. These are the causes of the gross insecurity in the land,” Kaigama added.

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.

He 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.

One of our correspondents observed the fuel scarcity situation at selected parts of Lagos State, the long queues at filling stations and also transport and fares at some motor parks.

However, in spite of the fuel shortage, some filling stations selling PMS were greeted with long queues, causing traffic congestions. Also, the crowd at major bus stops explains the number of commercial vehicles in operation.

Speaking with The Daily Times at the NNPC filling station at Ojudu Berger, Mr. Akin Oyedele, looking frustrated, lamented the man hours spent on the queue, saying: “I’ve been at the filling station since 5am and am still on the queue. As you can see, they are selling, but I fear‎ that the product will not finish before it gets to my turn, that was what happened to me in Ikeja on Friday.

“At the black market, I got a litre for N250 and I chose not to patronise black market again because it’s expensive.”

Most filling station along that axis remained shut, due to‎ lack of petroleum product. But a closer look, one will observe black market hawkers selling around the fuel station.

Likewise transportation‎ within the Lagos metropolis has increased between 50-150%, bus stops have more frustrated commuters, parked buses and street urchins bombarding buses ready to convey passengers, dictating how much should be charge as fares.

Ganiyu Obaaro, Chukwuemeke Iwelunmo, Joy Ekeke, Lagos