Lagos: Motorists hike transport fare as queue lingers at filling stations
By Innocent Raphael
Motorists in Lagos have hiked their transportation fares following the current fuel scarcity experience in the State.
WesternPost reports that the fuel scarcity continues to bedevil motorists and commuters in Nigeria as citizens expressed shock and worry at the situation.
Speaking to WesternPost’s Correspondent in Lagos on Monday, some commuters decried the sudden increase in the cost of transport by almost double in many locations across the State.
However, motorists have exonerated themselves, stating that the current scarcity of fuel was responsible for the increment.
A commercial bus driver at Ogba area, Mutairu Azeez, stated that the increase in transportation was due to lack of access to fuel at filling stations.
Azeez added ” It is not easy to get fuel nowadays. We face alot to buy fuel and so this makes us to hike the transport fare. Even to get to buy from black market is not easy at all.
” We struggle to buy at high price and so, passengers should not expect we will still charge same price. We need to make profit too and so we need to increase the transportation fare”.
Another motorist, Ifeanyi Uzor, said that he was surprised that there could be fuel scarity again, adding that the rush to buy fuel might be due to speculation on price increment.
He added that the speculation had also made some filling stations to hoard fuel.
Amidst the chaos, our correspondent noticed that while some Petrol stations across the state were jam-packed, others were deserted, giving credence to suspicions of hoarding and a purported hike.
As observed by WesternPost also, contrary to reports insinuating that the price of fuel has hit 700 Naira/litre, many filling stations like Mobil in Ogba Aguda area and NNPCL in Ijaye sell at 605 and 568 per litres respectively, with many others still dispensing below 700 Naira per litre.
Meanwhile, Senator Sadiq Umar from Kwara North have expressed concern over the ongoing fuel scarcity in Nigeria, emphasizing the need for the Senate to review fuel policies and intervene legislatively during its Tuesday session to address the situation.
Umar attributed the scarcity to various interests at play and urged Nigerians to be patient, assuring them of government efforts to alleviate their hardships.
He acknowledged the challenges posed by these policies but emphasized their necessity for national progress, promising measures to mitigate the impact on the people.
Reacting to the development earlier on Sunday, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) Olufemi Soneye, assured that the long queues would clear soon, emphasizing that NNPCL has sufficient stock of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
He attributed the current supply tightness to logistics issues, which according to him, have been addressed.
Soneye reaffirmed that petroleum product prices remain stable and urged Nigerians to avoid panic buying.
WesternPost reports that in light of the developments, however, commuters are still faced with increased fares by more than 100% at motor parks in many parts of the country, further adding to the burden.
