Commuters groan as fuel scarcity intensifies in Kano

Commuters, commercial and private vehicle owners in Kano have cried out over fuel scarcity which is intensifying by the day in the state. The scarcity, which started more than a week back, has caused long queues in some filling stations thus affecting vehicular movement especially in the state metropolis. For about two years, the perennial […]

Commuters, commercial and private vehicle owners in Kano have cried out over fuel scarcity which is intensifying by the day in the state.

The scarcity, which started more than a week back, has caused long queues in some filling stations thus affecting vehicular movement especially in the state metropolis.

For about two years, the perennial end of year fuel scarcity siezed to exist in the country. However, prior to President Muhammadu Buhari’s 2-day working visit to Kano last week, the public started to notice signs of the fuel scarcity.

Kano Chronicle gathered that what started as a mere scarcity without hike in price, has become a different thing as some few filling stations dispensing at night hours have increased their pump price to as high as N185 per litre.

Our reporter, who went round the state metropolis, discovered that many filing stations were under lock and key due to what fuel attendants described as “lack of fuel”, while the few that have the commodity were battling with customers and some only operate at night to sell to fuel hawkers.

Aminu Suleiman, a weekly commuter on Kano to Dutse route, told our reporter that the flow of passengers had dropped as transport fares kept fluctuating. 

“These days one cannot tell what the drivers of the commercial vehicles will charge. They kept telling us that they charged according to the price they got their fuel. it is as if we are living in a state without regulatory authorities,” Suleiman said.

Malam Jafar Mustapha Hotoro told Kano Chronicle that on Sunday he had to pay N1, 600 to Kaduna state as against N1. 500 adding that on his return he paid even higher. 

“We are just at the mercy of the commercial drivers, though I don’t blame them, but the situation needs urgent government attention,” Hotoro said.

Similarly, Kano Chronicle investigation revealed that traffic congestion in the state metropolis has reduced and a slight hike in transport fare is recorded in the last few days.

A motorist, Abba Amadu Zico described the development as an act of sabotage considering the timing of the fuel shortage. “I suspect there is hidden agenda to this scarcity,” he said.

Zico further said, “We used to have this kind of situation at the end of every year and the present administration successfully addressed it. The oil marketers are not happy with the development and that is why they are doing all these to sabotage the government efforts and the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is just watching them.” 

Ibrahim Nura, another motorist, said the scarcity is a clear indication that more needs to be done in the oil sector. 

“When few people are being allowed to wax stronger at the detriment of many, it is a clear indication that all is not well with the nation’s leadership. Look around the state and you will see that filling stations are almost everywhere but without fuel; they build and lock at will. It is worrisome and disgusting to see innocent people being subjected to artificial scarcity,” Nura lamented.  

However, when contacted, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Kano state branch, Alhaji Ahmad Bashir Danmalam, stated that the scarcity was as a result of shortage in supply of the commodity to the state.

According to him, the marketers association is doing all it could to address the situation adding that the shortage was because of the recent stoppage of supply to the state encountered from private deports. 

Danmalam added the private deports have also increased price of the commodity from N133 to N143.

He said, “The commodity is being loaded from deport here in Kano to supplement what the marketers are bringing from Port Harcourt and Warri. We want to assure the public that the scarcity will soon be over God willing.”

On its part, DPR stated that the department has intensified monitoring and surveillance to curtail possible excesses by petroleum marketers.

The DPR’s acting Controller Mr. Jezhi Paul Yaro stated that the action was on all fuel stations in Kano and Jigawa states adding that the move would ensure the oil marketers do the right thing.

“It is disheartening to note that some unpatriotic marketing companies are trying to take advantage of the situation by engaging in unwholesome activities that is why many have been placed under seal and appropriate sanctions are imposed for various violations ranging from product hoarding, under-dispensing and outright diversion.

“We are working round the clock to ensure conformity and therefore wish to seize this opportunity to warn petroleum marketing companies to desist from sharp practices as severe punishment await violators,” the controller warned.