Nigeria is currently grappling with a severe petrol scarcity and poor electricity supply, leaving citizens frustrated and angry as they struggle to go about their daily lives.
The situation is dire, with long queues resurfacing at filling stations across the country, and commercial and vehicular activities grinding to a halt.
The impact on transportation has been significant, with commuters forced to pay increased fares to cover the high cost of petrol. and multiple effect on goods has increase by far as traders and business people are increasing prices of products by 100% to cover the high cost of transport through their products. In Lagos, for instance, commuters are paying N2,000 from Mile 12 to Mile 2, a distance that previously cost N7,,00. Similarly, transporters are increasing fares by 100% to cover the high cost of petrol.
But it’s not just transportation that’s being affected. The scarcity of petrol has also led to a hike in foodstuff prices, especially pepper. Sellers are complaining about the high cost of transporting their goods, and citizens are feeling the pinch.
The situation is equally dire in other parts of the country. In Sokoto, some filling stations are selling petrol for as high as N1,500 per litre, while black market operators are selling for between N2,000 and N3,000 per litre.
A former Commissioner in Sokoto State, who was seen grappling to get a gallon of petrol for his car, blamed petroleum marketers in the state for the chaos.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) has said that the petrol scarcity could take more than two weeks to normalize.
According to IPMAN’s Public Relations Officer, Chinedu Ukadike, the product is not available in the country, and it has become a challenge to source it because most refineries in Europe are undergoing turnaround maintenance.
The removal of petrol subsidy by President Bola Tinubu in May 2023 has also had a negative impact on the socio-economic development of the country.
The high cost of living and other economic issues have combined to worsen the current situation, leading to an increase in the country’s poverty index.
The lack of job opportunities is at the core of the high poverty levels, and high inflation has taken a toll on household welfare.
Price increases have pushed more Nigerians into poverty, and the petrol situation has compounded the woes of poor electricity supply.
Most Nigerians are now resorting to solar power as a cheaper alternative source of electricity. In most households and business places, and even government establishments, public power supply is being replaced with solar energy.
The Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) have given the Federal Government a seven-day ultimatum to reverse the increase in electricity tariff.
According to the unions, “it is unethical to force Nigerians to pay higher tariffs for non-existent electricity.”
Citizens are groaning under the weight of the petrol scarcity and poor electricity supply.
Commuters are frustrated, transporters are struggling, and businesses are suffering. The situation is dire, and the government needs to take immediate action to address the suffering of citizens.
In the words of Sunday Adah, a driver who has been waiting in one of the queues, “This government is wicked and always bent on making us suffer. I do not understand if they enjoy seeing us suffer. I have been in this queue for more than four hours, and I have not been able to get fuel.”
The fuel situation is not getting better, To make matters worse, the light situation has been very terrible. The electricity company has caused Nigerians a lot of trouble with their erratic power supply. All the perishable things in peoples fridge got damaged. The heat and wealthier is getting bad at night is simply unbearable,
