Fuel scarcity threatens movement in Kano … as motorists abandon vehicles

A large number of motorists have been compelled to abandon their vehicles in Kano city as most residents groan under the harsh effects of fuel scarcity across the country. Kano Chronicle observed that vehicular movements have become scanty in the city because many motorist both commercial and private have left their vehicles behind for lack […]

A large number of motorists have been compelled to abandon their vehicles in Kano city as most residents groan under the harsh effects of fuel scarcity across the country.
Kano Chronicle observed that vehicular movements have become scanty in the city because many motorist both commercial and private have left their vehicles behind for lack of fuel.
It was noticed that while most of the filling stations in the city remained closed after they ran out of stock, the very few ones that were selling petrol had been completely overwhelmed by the number of motorists that besiege their stations.
 At a certain filling station along Zaria Expressway, our reporter noticed a very long queue of motorists that stretched up to two kilometers, even though the station was not dispensing fuel at the time.
Some motorists on that queue said they had spent between three to four days at the station without getting petrol.
As a result of this development, it was gathered that roadside petrol vendors raised their prices, selling a gallon at high costs ranging from N1,000 to N1,300 from the previous rate of N700. A 25-litre jerrycan now sells at N4,500 up from N3,500.
 A survey by Kano Chronicle revealed that most of the independent petroleum marketers sold petrol products at N155 to N160 per liter, defying the official pump price of N87. Even at these extortionate prices, desperate motorists could only find petrol in the outskirts of the city because the fuel marketers who sold above approved price were operating under constant fears of arrest by officials of the Department of Petroleum Products (DPR).
Incidentally, our reporters learnt that commercial vehicle operators have also jerked up transportation fares, charging commuters almost more than 20 percent on the normal rates.
A commuter Hassan Shuaibu, a resident of Hotoro quarters complained that he paid N100 for a tricycle ride to reach his workplace at Zoo Road area instead of the N70 he used to pay a few days ago.
“We are not happy because this situation is causing serious financial strain to us. I think the government is not making enough efforts to address this fuel scarcity which is getting worse by the day. Why should we continue to suffer while few others smiled to the banks in the name of bogus subsidy,” he asked rhetorically.
This is coming just a few days after the state government set up a task force committee to monitor distribution and sell of the petrol in the state.
Our reporters, who went round the state metropolis, observed that very few filling stations sold fuel yesterday.
Abubakar Yunusa, a commercial motorist, told Kano Chronicle that he got the fuel along Kano-Madobi road at very exorbitant price, saying “I bought a liter at N155 and even at that I had join a very long queue before I finally got it”.
He lamented that the scarcity of the product had subjected many people to serious hardships, noting that many commercial drivers suspended the business due to non availability of the fuel.
Another commercial motorist, Habibu Mudi, said: “No one can afford to operate with this high cost of fuel and expect any gain. Many of us have suspended operation for now even though we have not quit the business forever”.
He said the situation was terrible in Kano as according to him the scarcity of the product was their major challenge in the state.