Gist
‘This Is Unnecessary’ – Nigerians React As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder In Lagos
Nigerians have taken to Twitter to react to the fuel scarcity that has surfaced in Nigeria’s commercial capital, Lagos.
Many petrol stations are currently shut down and not dispensing fuel in the city and the struggle had started since last weekend, Naija News observed.
Several cars and commercial vehicles have been packed on the road since the scarcity loomed.
It became more serious as unusual long queues of vehicles at various filling stations in Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Lekki were noticed as residents spent longer periods trying to buy the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
Gridlocks have been reported also in Ojodu-Berger to Lekki, Gbagada, Alapere, Oshodi-Apapa axis, Ajah, Sangotedo, Mile-2, among others.
At some stations, the long queues have spiralled into the major roads making vehicle movement even more difficult after getting the fuel.
There are insinuations that the sudden increased demand for fuel is due to a power outage following a fire incident that led to the shutdown of Nigeria’s largest power plant, Egbin, from the national grid, last week.
However, despite improved power supply across the city yesterday according to reports, just as in other places, there were long queues on Awolowo road in Ikoyi, which caused gridlock along the axis.
On the Island (Ikoyi, Victoria Island and Obalende axis), only a few stations had supplied with manageable queues. It was the same situation along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
It was learned that the situation was different on the mainland part of Lagos as queues were barely noticed at filling stations monitored. This posed a challenge for motorists and commuters resuming their daily activities after the weekend break.
Some commuters resorted to trekking long distances to get to their destinations, while commercial transporters took advantage of the situation to hike transport fares on busy routes. The fare from Ajah to CMS, which, ordinarily, was N400, was hiked to ₦1,000.
Meanwhile, some of the stations have resolved to attend only to customers buying in jerry cans for the black market business, while there were no queues at filling stations in Mushin, Isolo, Ejigbo, Ikotun and environs.
Reacting to the fuel scarcity been experienced in parts of the state, some Nigerians have expressed their concerns over the situation.
See some of the reactions below:
Adulteration is the cause of the fuel scarcity and no one can tell how long this will be for, as it has already increased the pressure on old stock based on the pull by (panic) demand and associated hoarding. #EndFuelScarcity pic.twitter.com/a603ZN38Yn
— SEGA L'éveilleur® (@segalink) February 8, 2022
I just hate how Nigerians will see a problem and take advantage and of it. The gas stations know that there’s fuel scarcity and you’re leaving cars to sell to street boys carrying gallons so that you can get your own profit, I’m just annoyed.
— 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗔𝗻𝗴𝗲𝗹 𝗝𝗯𝘀𝗺𝗶𝘁𝗵 (@theangeljbsmith) February 8, 2022
Fuel scarcity again? On top all these plenty stress, Nigerian govt which way?
— DJ Neptune #Greatness (@deejayneptune) February 8, 2022
There’s fuel scarcity in the land!
Na fully remote I go do this week— Side Baby 🖤 (@UnKhalifa) February 7, 2022
There's nowhere in this world where people love to take advantage of fuel scarcity like Lagos.
It's sad.
— Ayo FBI (@PureMinD__) February 7, 2022
Fuel scarcity, bastard traffic. Life shortening combo
— MONKELE (@_Taaooma) February 7, 2022
Lagosians are too smart for our own good, everybody wanting to be sharper than the next person.
This fuel scarcity is artificial as far as I'm concerned – filling stations deliberately restricting sales to few pumps and buyers purchasing excess for storage…no sense in this.
— 'Demola Olarewaju (@DemolaRewaju) February 8, 2022
So these Fueling Stations are waiting for government to increase Fuel Subsidy, so they can increase their fuel prices.
No scarcity ,just increase in price and all of them have shut down their stations.Our problem isn't just the government but the people too.
— Sky (@seyi_jota) February 8, 2022
No traffic on lekki expressway today. E be like fuel scarcity don hook everybody.
— Sheni Coker (@sheni_coker) February 8, 2022
Fuel scarcity in Lekki. Fuel dey everywhere for Mainland.
Mainland is the land flowing with milk and honey. The only thing flowing on the Island is flood. Wahala fun Aquamen.
— Lola Okunrin (@lollypeezle) February 7, 2022
https://twitter.com/DW3663/status/1490954037746814976
Na Nigeria fuel scarcity go dey and electricity go suddenly scarce too.
I'm sure biblical hell is jealous of this country.
— Toluspinn (@Toluspinnn) February 8, 2022
