Workers in Abuja have remained stranded in various bus stops due to inadequate transportation services as a result of fuel scarcity that hit the country last week Friday.
A visit by our correspondent to major bus stops in the suburbs of the Federal Capital city where majority of worker reside, revealed how commuters struggle to get into few vehicles available to convey them to their places of work in the city.
“I spent an hour waiting at Lugbe bus stop waiting for vehicle that will convey me to the city, said David Godwin, who works at one of the embassies in Maitama.
As this continues drivers have also taken advantage of the situation as they have hike their fares by 50 percent.
“I paid N250 from federal secretariat where I work to my house in Kubwa after the close of work yesterday, said Mr. Andrew Bassey, a staff of Federal Ministry of Education. “Today it is more difficult to get a vehicle that will take me to town the one I eventually charged N300 per person.”
Investigation by our correspondent reveal that taxi hire services within the city have also doubled in price. A drop from Maitama to Asokoro, which before now was N400 is now N600. And from Gwarimpa to Central area, which driver before now charge N500 is now N700.
As the scarcity persists black marketer are marking brisk business, as they stationed themselves in front of major filling stations along the express ways. People that couldn’t bear the stress of being in the long fuel queue that stretched almost three kilometers, buy from the black marketer who sell in containers.
“I bought from the guys that sell fuel on the road side at the Gwarimpa fuel station, “Mr. Thomas Onokpora, a business man said. “ I bought 10 liters of fuel for N20,000, what in a normal day is just N870. I don’t have fuel and I can’t waste my time queuing at the fuel station.”
The effect of the fuel scarcity has crippled commercially activities in Abuja and some major city in the country. Although the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) said yesterday that 5.2 million litres with 145 trucks was distributed to Abuja and environs the impact is yet to be felt.