Punches, curses, and wild jest trail the hustle for premium motor spirit (PMS), better known as petrol, as Nigerians, especially commercial drivers, okada riders, and private car owners, resume daily economic activities on Monday, April 29, 2024 in petrol stations.
This was gathered by WITHIN NIGERIA when its reporter circumnavigated Ilesa metropolis to gain an understanding of what Nigerians, especially primary consumers of petrol, are passing through owing to the scarcity of fuel and the increment in PMS price.
When WITHIN NIGERIA circumnavigated Ilesa metropolis, it sighted five out of multiple fuel stations in the ancient town, which were densely populated at the time of the visit.
The five fuel stations, namely, BOVAS Fuel Station in Irojo, Aliyu Fuel Station along Wesley Guild Hospital, NIPCO fuel station along Bolorunduro area, J-tad fuel station beside a junction facing Zenith Bank and General Oil Ltd. in the Coca-Cola area.
BOVAS fuel station sells petrol at N640 per liter, Aliyu fuel station sells petrol at N900 per liter, and General Oil Ltd. sells petrol at N800 per liter. NIPCO fuel station sells petrol at N1000 per liter.
At General Oil Ltd., this reporter sighted one of the private cars and one Hilux patrol vehicle belonging to Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran, parked at the entrance of the station while his aides took kegs out of the patrol vehicle, followed by security agents armed with guns to purchase petrol in the crowd.This move tensed the atmosphere, leading to an exchange of blows between four young adults who were struggling to buy gasoline shortly after the royal kegs were filled up. Efforts by some people to calm the situation worsened as it resulted in the profiling of actors involved in the conflict: okada riders, private and keg owners.
The fight continued for some minutes before the manager of the fuel station went into his office and switched off the electricity meter. However, switching the meter off only calmed the situation, but many people are still on standby, abandoning businesses on a Monday morning as they wait for the manager to reconsider his decision. The status quo did not change, as at the time this reporter left the fuel station for another.
At BOVAS fuel station in Irojo, it was more of a theater than a hustle for gasoline. Some Okada riders were sighted by this reporter chanting ‘E lo fokan bale’—a p popular statement credited to Bola Ahmed Tinubu, President of the Nation, during electioneering. They were mocking the angry crowd, teasing and cursing those who voted for Bola Tinubu as president.
Olaiya, a young man in his early thirties who later identified as a welder, told WITHIN NIGERIA that he is in dire need of petrol to power his generator in order to meet the deadline of a project he’s working on.
According to Olaiya, more than two deadlines have not been met due to unstable electricity, an increase in price, and the scarcity of petrol.
Olaiya further begged the Tinubu-led administration and the NNPC to address fuel scarcity and put an end to the suffering of the people.
A 27-year-old bike man identified as Musiliu, while complaining bitterly about the scarcity of fuel, disclosed that he had not worked for two days.
Musiliu, who further disclosed that he is not the owner of the motorcycle, stated that he has a particular fee that must be paid to the owner, adding that he has missed two payments.
It is very strange that a liter of petrol would be N900 and people would still struggle to buy it. This development is strange, unpleasing, and further shows the character of the people we have in power, he further added.
Adebimpe, a woman in her fifties, told WITHIN NIGERIA that it is so sad that Nigerians always move from fry pan to fire and bad to worse.
Adebimpe, while expressing doubts over the scarcity of petrol at N800 or N900 per liter, disclosed that she has never witnessed a situation that is as extreme and terribly inhumane as this in all her entire life.
I was at a fuel station yesterday. I spent four hours there. It nearly got to my turn when I was told that there was no more fuel. I hate stress. I have the money, but there’s no fuel. That’s the kind of country we live in, she added.
Reacting to the development, a human rights activist identified as Samuel Adebiyi told WITHIN NIGERIA that the government is pushing Nigerians to the wall through a continued increment in the price and scarcity of petrol in the country.
When Buhari was in power, a liter of petrol was above N200, and people were still complaining bitterly about it. Tinubu came on board, and it moved from above N200 to N580 per liter as the official price. Now petrol stations sell a liter above N700, yet people are still struggling so hard to get it. This is not the Nigeria we desire, Adebiyi further stated.