Fuel scarcity bites harder in Onitsha

*Hike in transport fare, queues cause gridlock, traders trek
to markets
From Jeff Amechi Agbodo, Onitsha
Scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as
fuel in Onitsha, commercial hub of Anambra State has
continued to bite harder on residents and traders.
It was gathered that fuel now sells for between N140 and
N150 per litre where it is dispensed in filling stations while
black market sells for between N180 and N200 per litre.
Daily Sun correspondent, who monitored the situation
gathered that scarcity of fuel has caused hardship to the
residents of the commercial, who now trek miles to
markets due to non-availability of vehicles and high cost
of transportation fare.
The transportation fare that was between N30 and N50
per  drop for short distance was now between N50 and
N100 while far distance like from Onitsha to Awka that
was between N150 and N200 now costs between N300
and N400 respectively.
The transport fare from Enugu to Onitsha was between
N400 and N500 now cost between N700 and 900 due to
fuel scarcity.
A long queue of vehicles comprising cars, tricycles and
motorcycle operators waiting to buy fuel at the filling
stations has emerged causing serious gridlock along
major roads in Onitsha.
Also,  scarcity of fuel has caused an increase in prices of
commodities and foodstuffs, while some traders
capitalised on the situation to increase prices of their
products in the market, some said they spent a lot of
money to transport the commodities to the market and
could not incur loss after the sale of the goods.
A trader in Onitsha main market Mr. Chinedu Agu
lamented the scarcity, saying the masses have suffered a
lot in the hands of the rich in the society.
Another respondent and civil servant, Mrs Grace
Ogadimma lamented how the scarcity was biting harder
on civil servants who received fixed salaries.
“It is too hard on civil servants who have no salary
increase, the hike on foodstuffs and hike on transport fare
affects us because we are spending more than our income
in a month. We thought the Messiah has come in the
person of President Buhari but the scarcity of fuel has
lingered and the masses are suffering it, something should
be done to reduce the suffering of ordinary Nigerians,” she
appealed.