I needed to do a quick paper work to beat a deadline, so I went to my usual business center in Lagos. On getting there, I found the owner sitting and wearing a long face. There was no light in his office. That to me was not strange. I can't remember getting there and finding light. The usual thing was for him to switch on his generating set. But not this time! He told me he could not operate because he could not get fuel to power his generating set, as the fuel stations that manage to sell refuse selling to those carrying kegs and jerrycans. I told him to accept my sympathy.
I can't remember any time like this in the history of fuel scarcity in Nigeria. Nigerians are suffering hardship for a commodity that nature has given them as a gift.
Amidst the scarcity and hardship filling stations, especially the major marketers have refused to sell to those carrying kegs and jerrycans because they say these people buy the products and then resell at the black market. And that government is also trying to prevent fuel diversion. A black marketer carrying 5 liter fuel keg is part of fuel diversion! Tell me something else!
One way or the other everyone is being affected by the policy, because though I may be able to buy into my car, I can't fuel the generating sets in my home. The cars of today, while you can syphon fuel into them you can't syphon out. Unless a mechanic goes under the car. A fellow nearly lost his car when it partially caught fire because the mechanic after going under the car to release fuel failed to tighten the fuel outlet.
Besides, we all know that petrol is what moves our economy. Small business owners use it to run their business. We have those running barbing and hairdressing salons, apart from business centers. Even banks, schools, factories and hospitals. On whose head will be the blood of those who died needing surgical intervention but denied surgery as the theater could not function, because the hospitals were not given fuel when their staff came with jerrycans? I say this because it has already happened!
Nigerians also need to power their generating sets as power supply seems to have worsened. Even those who detach the fuel tank in their generating set are still denied access to fuel.
Who should be blamed for the existence of fuel black market? No one would patronize the black market where the price of fuel is higher when they can get fuel at the normal price in a fuel station. Even if there are blackmarkets markets it is to Nigerians the product is sold.
Yet if you ask me, it's better to let the few black marketers operate than suffer the majority of Nigerians. The black marketers fill the large distribution gap left by government.
The existence of black market itself is a symptom of another problem: unemployment. No gainfully employed person will leave their duty post to stand in the sun hawking fuel.
The discrimination against Nigerians who buy fuel in jerrycans is elitist and is not agreeable with the tenets of this present government. Unless it is telling Nigerians otherwise.
Government must be seen to be sensitive to the plight of the people. I mean all the people! Fuel is not greater than the people. The people are greater than fuel. Majority of Nigerians are poor and majority don't own cars. They are the ones being punished more by this policy.
While all efforts are made to find a lasting solution to the perennial fuel scarcity, President Muhammadu Buhari must order that fuel should be sold to all Nigerians. Nigerians have suffered enough as it is. Their problems should not be compounded.
It should be mandatory that all fuel outlets have a dedicated line for those who buy in kegs and jerrycans, while the line for vehicles stand on their own. Anything short of that is unintelligent, callous and wicked!
Dr Cosmas Odoemena
I needed to do a quick paper work to beat a deadline, so I went to my usual business center in Lagos. On getting there, I found the owner sitting and wearing a long face. There was no light in his office. That to me was not strange. I can't remember getting there and finding light. The usual thing was for him to switch on his generating set. But not this time! He told me he could not operate because he could not get fuel to power his generating set, as the fuel stations that manage to sell refuse selling to those carrying kegs and jerrycans. I told him to accept my sympathy.
I can't remember any time like this in the history of fuel scarcity in Nigeria. Nigerians are suffering hardship for a commodity that nature has given them as a gift.
Amidst the scarcity and hardship filling stations, especially the major marketers have refused to sell to those carrying kegs and jerrycans because they say these people buy the products and then resell at the black market. And that government is also trying to prevent fuel diversion. A black marketer carrying 5 liter fuel keg is part of fuel diversion! Tell me something else!
One way or the other everyone is being affected by the policy, because though I may be able to buy into my car, I can't fuel the generating sets in my home. The cars of today, while you can syphon fuel into them you can't syphon out. Unless a mechanic goes under the car. A fellow nearly lost his car when it partially caught fire because the mechanic after going under the car to release fuel failed to tighten the fuel outlet.
Besides, we all know that petrol is what moves our economy. Small business owners use it to run their business. We have those running barbing and hairdressing salons, apart from business centers. Even banks, schools, factories and hospitals. On whose head will be the blood of those who died needing surgical intervention but denied surgery as the theater could not function, because the hospitals were not given fuel when their staff came with jerrycans? I say this because it has already happened!
Nigerians also need to power their generating sets as power supply seems to have worsened. Even those who detach the fuel tank in their generating set are still denied access to fuel.
Who should be blamed for the existence of fuel black market? No one would patronize the black market where the price of fuel is higher when they can get fuel at the normal price in a fuel station. Even if there are blackmarkets markets it is to Nigerians the product is sold.
Yet if you ask me, it's better to let the few black marketers operate than suffer the majority of Nigerians. The black marketers fill the large distribution gap left by government.
The existence of black market itself is a symptom of another problem: unemployment. No gainfully employed person will leave their duty post to stand in the sun hawking fuel.
The discrimination against Nigerians who buy fuel in jerrycans is elitist and is not agreeable with the tenets of this present government. Unless it is telling Nigerians otherwise.
Government must be seen to be sensitive to the plight of the people. I mean all the people! Fuel is not greater than the people. The people are greater than fuel. Majority of Nigerians are poor and majority don't own cars. They are the ones being punished more by this policy.
While all efforts are made to find a lasting solution to the perennial fuel scarcity, President Muhammadu Buhari must order that fuel should be sold to all Nigerians. Nigerians have suffered enough as it is. Their problems should not be compounded.
It should be mandatory that all fuel outlets have a dedicated line for those who buy in kegs and jerrycans, while the line for vehicles stand on their own. Anything short of that is unintelligent, callous and wicked!
Dr Cosmas Odoemena
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