Yesterday, a friend of mine residing in Lagos State told me about something disconcerting that was happening. You know how much I’ve talked about the incessant increment in the price of petrol, well in Lagos, fuel is gotten at somewhere around N1200. Sadly, that’s not the worst thing that’s happening. Even at that price, fuel is still scarce, causing queues at the little filling stations that are actually open. However, I found out yesterday that to even get in the queue, you have to pay money.
Yeah, you have to pay N500 as an individual, or N1000 if you’re driving a car. As in, can you imagine? Agberos are the ones doing this and they’re ready to use any means to make people pay the money. I can’t imagine why people would be taking advantage of the scarcity in such a manner, knowing that people are desperate for the fuel and using it as an opportunity to exploit them.
You can’t tell me that the owners of the filling station are not involved in this, because there is no way such a thing will be going on and they won’t partake. It’s just insane that they would allow people to treat their customers in such a way.
I’m sure that it’s not happening in all parts of Lagos, but the fact that it’s even happening at all is sickening. But then, what else can we expect from an industry that used to charge people for their kegs? If you can remember, there was a time when as you’re buying fuel, you’ll pay a small charge for the keg you’re carrying. One of the most useless and dumbest forms of extortions, but it worked because they refused to sell to you if you refused to pay. And seeing as all of them did it, customers usually didn’t have a choice.
The government had to step up and clamp down on such activities, I think it was during their battle against faulty weighing systems and fraudulent practices in the sector, it helped a lot back then and it was all in the past. You’d think these guys learned their lesson, but you’d be wrong. Despite how bad things have gotten, they’re still looking for more ways to punish their customers.
Even here in Owerri, it’s not any better. There are so many filling stations that are simply refusing to sell to individuals. Many of them are hoarding it for when the price will go even higher. The ones who are actually selling, are selling only to black marketers. People who are buying it in large quantities, just to sell it at black market price. That’s why you could walk past a filling station here today and it would be empty, however, you’d have no idea that they already made millions in sales.
You see, we’re the ones doing ourselves. We complain about the government every time but we’re no different. We’ve shown time and again that if we have the opportunity, we’ll also damn everyone else and look out for our own needs. The owners of the filling stations are doing what they feel will get them money, and selling to only black marketers does that. Black marketers will then sell it locally, adding about N200 to the original price, making a lot of money.
I guess it’s a good time to remind you that no one really cares about you, everyone is simply looking out for themselves. It’s painful. Like, we’re all going through this shege together, you’re supposed to understand exactly where the shoe is pinching me. Yet, you’re plotting ways to take even the small money that I have from me. It’s cruel. And I’m sure that things like this are happening in just about every corner of the country.
Honestly, I don’t know what to say anymore. We really need to step up because we can’t keep punishing ourselves even when the government is punishing us. Because what the heck? Anyway, what is the fuel situation in your area?
