Fuel Scarcity Forces Motorists To Embrace Agriculture

Some transporters in Benue State have resolved to return to Agriculture and engage in farming activities, as the persistent fuel scarcity continue to cripple their sources of livelihood.

 

Some of the transporters, who bring in firewood from village markets to Makurdi metropolis, told Channels Television on Wednesday that life had become difficult, as a litre of fuel now sells for 180 Naira in most private fuel stations.

Fuel stations selling at the official pump price of 86 Naira 50 Kobo, experience heavy traffic with long queues that close the road to free flow of traffic.
While most fuel service stations lack petroleum products, a dealer with Conoil said over 40,000 litres of fuel was available for sale to motorist.
Losing Man-hour
In Makurdi-Gboko Federal Highway, the biting fuel scarcity in the state has left some motorists stranded.
The long queue stretching down the federal highway has kept them waiting for over five hours.
They wait endlessly to buy petroleum products, losing man-hour to the situation.
Mr Jonah Atungor said he had been at a service station for over five hours, but could still not access the product.
Another motorist said he had decided to return to the farm and leave behind the uncertainties in transport business.
A once booming and steady business that help in the movement of goods and service within and across different states has become difficult to manage, with commuters and goods’ owners bearing the heat, as transportation cost is on the increase.
While few stations owned by major marketers sell the product at the official price per litre, most independent marketers sell the product for as high as 180 Naira.
Black marketers are also having a field day, with most of them selling petrol at 200 Naira per litre.
The Nigerian government had promised that by the second week of April the scarcity would have eased, but critics say scarcity is likely to return, as the nation’s refineries are not performing at optimum output.