Residents in Northern Nigeria states are currently battling with a hike in fuel price, sparking widespread concern and frustration.
Respondents who spoke to WikkiTimes lamented the suffering they have to face time to time due to fuel scarcity.
As queues go longer than normal around petrol stations and frustrations mount, citizens are decrying the adverse effects of the hike in fuel prices on their daily lives.
Commuters also feel the brunt of the hike, experiencing delays in transportation and increased costs as transport fares skyrocket.
In a related development, local businesses also feel the pinch, as the surge and scarcity disrupt their operations, while driving up overhead costs.
Many small-scale enterprises, reliant on generators due to inconsistent power supply, are particularly vulnerable, facing the prospect of reduced productivity and financial losses.
Speaking to WikkiTimes, Danladi Yusuf, a resident of Yelwan Tudu, a suburb of the Bauchi metropolis, lamented the challenges posed by the fuel price hike, “It’s becoming increasingly difficult to go about our daily activities. The government needs to find a lasting solution to this problem.”
The scarcity has also raised concerns about its potential ripple effects on the economy, with analysts warning of more inflation if the situation persists.
Shehu Musa, a commercial driver, also lamented the persistent fuel crises that, according to him crippled his business. “I will park my car because I can no longer afford to work day long just to pay it all for fuel and save nothing.”
A visit to fuel stations in Bauchi revealed that the stations sell at N860 to N900 per litre, while many others remain closed.
While Yankari Fueling Station at Mararaban Katagum community remains closed, ANSLOW fueling station sells at N900/litre, and AHMIS Co Ltd. sells at N880/litre.
In Misau community of Bauchi State commercial drivers say the sudden scarcity and increase is uncalled for as it only adds to their existing sufferings amidst dwindling economy as they hardly make their daily targets.
Kawu Malam, a motorcyclist on hire purchase told WikkiTimes that for the last three days, he couldn’t make it up to his daily target of seven hundred naira per day, saying that all what he gained ended up with fuel stations and food vendors.
“This thing tire us so much. The price keeps increasing and it is making things difficult for us. Now that you see me I couldn’t make up my daily target of seven hundred naira. I woke up in the morning and had to join long queues before getting fuel at N7,70 at AYM Shafa, but before long it has finished and the money isn’t encouraging”.
“Am afraid if this continues, I will have to return the machine to its owner. I can’t be suffering for nothing. The owner is expecting his money daily and my family also needs to be fed and this fuel thing is frustrating us”, said Kawu.
For Habu Bello, a tricyclists, the price is unbearable to them as they hardly make five thousand naira on a daily basis, attributing it to uncertainty as to when the price will go up or down.
“This Keke is not mine and I have to work hard every day to make the two thousand naira daily for the owner. I have to handle minor repairs and other stuff. So this increase is subjecting us to many hardships. It is hard for us to make something in a day”.
Checks by WikkiTimes indicated that even though fuel is available in Misau, the price differ with many fuel stations selling at N1000 while AYM Shafa and Yankari Fuel stations sale at N770 and NNPC Mega station has the price at N620 with long queues.
Kano
Fuel scarcity and attendant queues have resurfaced across the metropolitan local government areas of Kano State, WikkiTimes can report.
WikkiTimes findings at different filling stations in Kano indicate that most filling stations are selling the premium motor spirit (PMS) between N800 – N1100 per liter which affects costs of transportation in the city.
A motorist, Ibrahim Abdullahi, told WikkiTimes that he had purchased one liter at N1000 in the commercial nerve center of northern Nigeria.
According to Mustapha Adamu, a tricyclist, he bought a liter for N1050 in Kano and that has affected his daily earnings. “It is really tough because you will be arguing often with your passengers about the changes in prices”.
However, Monday morning, WikkiTimes observed that AYM Shafa filling station in Kabuga was dispensing fuel at N700 per liter.
Bala Sadiq, said, “it is because of the price that you see me here. It’s N700 here in AYM Shafa Kabuga. You can see a lot of people queuing here.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), through its Public Relations Officer (PRO), Chinedu Ukadike,ffrf noted that the fuel scarcity will linger up to two weeks due to shortage of supply, turnaround maintenance of refineries in Europe and delay in renewal of license to its members by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), in a statement, earlier attributed the fuel scarcity to logistics issues which it said was over.
Gombe
The story is not different in Gombe. Some residents and business owners have decried the fuel scarcity, arguing that the government is simply indifferent about matters concerning the public.
Hadiza Bala, an ice block seller in Kundulum, lamented that the fuel scarcity coupled with lack of electricity has kept her out of business for a number of days now.
“I rely on this business to take care of my children but this fuel scarcity has made me stranded. We need fuel to power the generators to produce ice block everyday, but now we have no choice than to give up,”
“This government should always remember that it is with our sweat and strength that we voted for them. It is disappointing that common issues like fuel scarcity take a long time to be resolved,” she said.
For Aliyu Ahmed, a tricyclist, it is already frustrating enough that the fuel price keeps going up.
“This is one of the most difficult years of my life. Imagine spending the whole day in search of fuel under this hot sun. All I can say about this government is that it is a disappointment.” he said.
Similarly, Abubakar Muhammad, a lecturer, lamented that due to the fuel scarcity, he has to trek to his place of work sometimes because commercial riders are not available. He called on the government and relevant stakeholders to do the needful, saying that it is a shame that we have to experience fuel scarcity in a country like Nigeria.
JIGAWA
In Dutse, the Jigawa state capital fuel scarcity and the hike in price has caused a long queue from the NNPC Mega filling Station to the Federal University Dutse’s first gate. To purchase fuel at a lower cost than private filling stations, motorists told WikkiTimes that they had to queue for days to access fuel. This according to respondents has interrupted schedules and affected work and livelihood. Government filling stations sell the fuel at N620 naira per litre while private or roadside markets sell at N1000/N950 naira or more.
In an interview with WikkiTimes, a driver from Jigawa Umar Abubakar claimed that the prices of fuel have been reduced but filling stations are not complying.
“We have been suffering fuel scarcity for some days now. I heard that the prices of fuel has been reduced but filling stations don’t want to sell it at low prices because they claim they bought it at a high price and will only reduce the prices after they sell what they have in store.”
“I drive from Kaduna to Kano, Kano to Jigawa and back. From Kaduna to Jigawa fuel is 1000 per litre, I spent about N30,000 naira to fuel my car. That’s why I’m here at the NNPC Mega Filling Station Dutse to buy fuel at N620 per litre; private stations sell theirs at N1010/N1000 per litre. I slept in the queue since yesterday so I can get it at a cheaper price to travel back to Kaduna, if not there won’t be any profit.”
Mal Lawal Ismail Dutse who has been in the queue since Noon is lamenting about the state of things from his end.
“We have been here since 12 PM but the system is not working as those with privilege are given easy access with no consideration for us. We have families who look up to us at home waiting for us to bring back food for tomorrow, but the day is over with nothing to show for it except waiting in the queue.”
Mal Garba Subula Malamawa mentioned that every citizen has been touched by fuel scarcity.
“This has touched everyone, fuel that was N65 naira per litre before is now 1000/1050 naira per litre. The truth is this has affected me and my family; we hardly eat three square meals a day, and a lot of marriages have divorced due to the poor state of things. Everything has increased in price, you go out to find your daily bread and come back empty, and transport is no longer affordable.”
Mr Jamilu Ibrahim a civil servant cried out about the hardship the increase in fuel prices has brought.
“We can only call to Allah because this is a disaster. The things you buy with just small money can no longer be affordable. This has affected our livelihood in many ways; the little money you can use to take care of food and daily problems is no longer enough. If not for necessity, I could have dropped this car.”
The Station Manager NNPC Jigawa State Alhj Muktar Ishaq refutes the claim that in a few days’ time the government will bring down the prices of fuel.
“At the moment there is no outlet that can verify that the government said it will reduce or increase fuel prices, these stories are mostly carried on by people. We haven’t received any notice from the government on this, if the government has reduced the prices, we will get a notice. In less than ten minutes the prices will reflect here automatically from Abuja, and the pumps will start reading the new agreed price.
“We sell fuel at N620 and for more than 20 days we have not stopped dispensing fuel to people. This filling station not only serves the people of Jigawa but also people from other states like Bauchi, and Kano due to the availability of fuel.”
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