Fuel queues ease in FCT as commuters contend with fuel price hike
The fuel scarcity that hit Abuja, the nation’s capital, throughout last week reduced at the weekend.
However, commuters are still contending with price hikes occasioned by the scarcity and the unofficial rise in the pump price of the product.
While the government and its agencies didn’t do anything about it, Abuja residents went through dry fuel stations for over a week and had to make do with black market operators who sold at cut throat prices ranging from N790, N800 and N1,000 per litre.
On the other hand, black marketers sold at between N1, 100 to N1, 300 per litre.
This resulted in scarcity of vehicles on the roads and increase in transportation fares.
From Nyanya to Federal Secretariat which used to cost between N400 and N500 now costs between N700 and N850.
Private car owners who usually conveyed workers, in the absence of the availability of an adequate organised public transportation system, decided to break their trips. So, it is no longer possible to get Karshi – Orozo- Jikwoyi to the town. Passengers now pay N500 from Karshi or Orozo to Nyanya before boarding Nyanya to the Federal Secretariat.
The situation from Dutse, Kubwa, Airport Road and other gateways is the same.
The luxury of enjoying one passenger in front and three behind has also gone with the new reality. It’s now two passengers in front and four behind in cars.
Some of the passengers who spoke with ThisNigeria expressed optimism that when the fuel supply normalises, prices will return to normal.
Another passenger, who simply gave his name as Joe said he never knew that transport fares in the FCT would get so high so much that where drivers would convey two passengers in front like in villages.
Joe said: “Look at me, well dressed in my suit, I had to climb into the back of an open pick up van to return from work. I never thought it would ever come to that in Abuja.”
A fuel station manager in Azhata, along Karshi – Orozo Road who identified himself as IK said he could only sell products when it’s made available to him.
He, however, did not mention the factors responsible for the scarcity of fuel.
