Fuel scarcity crippling businesses in Asaba
By Dave Okpogadie, Asaba
Asaba the capital of oil rich, Delta state is having its fair share of the fuel scarcity that has hit the nation for some time now.
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has become a very scarce commodity in Asaba and environs, thereby impacting negatively on the business atmosphere in the area.
Long queues at various filling stations that are lucky to have the product is now a common thing in Asaba capital territory, while the queues encroached into the roads thereby obstructing vehicular movements.
To buy fuel, some motorists besiege the various filling stations that have the product as early as 5:00 a.m while some people leave their vehicles at the filling stations in order to get the product early the next day.
In addition to the scarcity, there is hike in the price of the product as a litre, in some cases, is over N230.
It was observed that the major marketers, when they have the product, open their filling stations for business while most of the independent marketers do not open for sales until evening time when the regulatory agencies must have closed for the day.
This is done in order to carry out their sharp practices unhindered.
Beside motorists, the fuel scarcity has also taken its toll on all forms of businesses either as a direct reaction or indirect reaction.
Transport fare has gone up as commercial drivers have increased their fares with about 50 percent.
As a result of the hike in cost of transportation occasioned by fuel scarcity, many people have resorted to trekking, especially when the distance is not too far.
Consequently, prices of food stuff have gone up as traders and market women hinged the increase in prices of foodstuffs to the increase in the cost of transportation of goods.
Those that depend on power to do their business are worst hit by the fuel crisis.
One of such people, Efe Ukpede, who is a dry cleaner, complained that it had not been easy for him as a result of the fuel scarcity.
He remarked that electricity power was not available and fuel scarcity had made it impossible for him to use his generator.
Emoefe revealed that some filling stations are not even selling to customers with containers.
“For some days now, I have not been working. No light and no water in our community. With the fuel scarcity now, we cannot use our power generator to power our equipments such as to wash clothes and iron them.
“The Government should step up actions and take away the bad fuel and bring good products so that we can have fuel in our filling stations,” he pleaded.
A Trader, Mrs Agnes Okonkwo, who spoke with Nigerian NewsDirect, also lamented the fuel scarcity, how it has affected her business.
“As you can see, I sell cold soft drinks and water. This dry season is our period of making good sales but as it is now, my drinks are not cold. I always use my generator to power my refrigerator because electricity power is almost non available in this area. But now I can’t get fuel because I can’t queue for hours and leave my shop.
“She begged the concerned authorities to address the fuel scarcity immediately to put an end to the suffering by Nigerians,” she said.
The fuel scarcity has also given rise to brisk businesses at some filling stations. Fuel attendants have been demanding bribe before selling fuel to customers, especially those that came with containers.
In the same vein, black markets are thriving as many people prefer to patronise the black markets rather than spend hours at the filling stations, waiting for their turn to buy fuel.
