Commuters in Anambra State had a difficult time getting to their various destinations as commercial transport operators increased transit charges by more than 100% as a result of the fuel scarcity that struck major cities throughout the state on Wednesday.
This comes as the black market price of Premium Motor Spirit, also known as petrol, reached N1,200 per litre as motorists resorted to panic buying as most filling stations remained closed and not dispensing the product.
Residents protested about the development, which produced a lot of discomfort in the transportation and business sectors across the state.
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Although the true cause of the fuel scarcity could not be determined immediately, it was learned that an emergency meeting held in Awka on Wednesday by petroleum marketers from across the state heightened tensions as motorists and other users of the product speculated that the meeting was called to discuss an increase in the fuel pump price.
According to reports, most filling stations in major cities such as Onitsha, Nnewi, Ekwulobia, Nkpor, and Awka have been closed since Monday in anticipation of the new price regime, leaving only black market operators to sell the product at exorbitant prices.
As a result of the development, many motorists raised their fares; a N200 journey became N400, while a N300 journey became N600, as the case may be, a situation that forced most residents of the state who were caught off guard to resort to trekking, while commercial activities were also impacted.
Chidi Okeke, a commercial bus operator in Onitsha and the Secretary of the Bus Drivers Association, said, “I bought the product for N700 per litre this morning in Asaba because no filling station has opened in Onitsha today.” We discovered that all of the marketers are meeting somewhere, but we don’t know if the meeting is to raise their prices or not.
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“No filling station is selling fuel in Onitsha and the black marketers who are selling have hiked the prices. That was why I went to Asaba to buy fuel. This is terrible. We don’t know what tomorrow will look like, if the situation continues like this tomorrow, we will have to park our vehicles as all the profits we are making now goes to fuel.”
A commuter and a civil servant based in Nnewi, Grace Oma, said, “Getting a vehicle has been hectic today. The few vehicles available have almost tripled their fares and it is unexpected. Yesterday, I paid N800 to Awka, but today, they are charging almost N2,000.”
In response to the development, Mr Chinedu Anyaso, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, in charge of the Enugu depot spanning six states, including Anambra, advised Nigerians not to worry.
Anyaso stated that the closure of filling stations was not intended to create any harm or to raise the pump price of gasoline further, as has been widely anticipated across the state, but rather to ensure that all of its members attend an emergency general meeting set in Awka.
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He said, “The emergency meeting was to deliberate on the recent marking of about 16 filling stations in Ekwulobia, to give way for the construction of a proposed flyover in the town.
“16 filling stations were marked for demolition in Ekwulobia axis by the Anambra State government to give way for the proposed construction of a flyover and adjourning roads in the area.
“Our members are willing to comply, there is a need for the government to reach an agreement with them as regards compensation because the facilities are the only source of income to the owners.
“We have written to the Anambra State government over the development, but was yet to receive a reply, hence the meeting, was called to discuss how to further engage for the overall interest of its members and the motoring public.”
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