The lingering fuel scarcity being experienced in Nigeria for weeks now, reached a peak on Tuesday when workers in many parts of the country resorted to trekking long distances to work.
Most of those who spoke with our correspondent, threatened to stay off work till the situation abates.
In most areas including Lagos and Ogun, many workers and business people were seen loitering around bus stops for many hours. Some were seen making calls to their offices and business units telling the receivers of their plights.
Also, the number of vehicles on the road were very few with heavy holdup in areas where some filling stations dispensed fuel.
It was however learnt that these few filling stations sold the premium motor spirit, also called petrol, at cut-throat price.
For example, in the Lekki and Ajah area of the state, petrol sold at between N350 and N400 per litre in filling stations while in the Ikeja area of Lagos, the product sold at between N250 and N300 per litre.
In Ogun State, many filling stations were shut at the time of this report while black market operations thrived.
“I trekked all the way from Pen Cinema in Agege to Alausa today. Now in my office, I can’t even work because I am completely out of strength,” a resident who gave his name as Jimoh Ajaoh, said.
Another resident of Lagos, Rotimi Segun, lamented that the scarcity was seriously biting. He urged the government to urgently come to the rescue of Nigerians.
“I left home around 6am. It is now 9am and I am still at the bus stop. I may have to return home if I wait till 10am without a vehicle,” he said.
Motorists who could secure the products used the opportunity to hike transport fees. Residents paid between N300 and N400 between Toll Gate and Agege on the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway instead of the usual N100 or N150.
From Agege to Yaba, residents paid N400 on Tuesday instead of the usual N150 or N200 while Pen Cinema to Alausa that was N70 now cost N150.
It was also learnt that prices of interstate transport have skyrocketed.
A top government official in Lagos State, who would not want his name mentioned, said many staff of the government had began giving excuses and warning they could be forced to stay at home till the situation calms.
He said he no longer had a choice other than to see how job would be rationed till the scarcity eases off.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Dr. Ibe Kachikwu, had promised that the scarcity would be resolved on 7th April when the product would be distributed.
