Commuters stranded in Abuja as fuel queues return

Stranded commuters lined many routes in the Federal Capital Territory over the weekend after fresh fuel shortage hit the city in the middle of the Sallah celebration. Between Saturday and Sunday, many passengers stayed at bus stops for hours waiting to be lifted to destinations at increased fares because motorists either bought petrol from the black-market or spent too long at filling stations to buy petrol at the official N65 a litre rate.

At the black-market, petrol sells for as much as N200 per litre, motorists said.

"If I say I should wait at the filling station, I will wait till night," said Isa Mohammed, a commercial motorcyclist.

Joseph Lai, a cab driver, said he stayed at a filling station, belonging to Conoil, in Garki, Abuja, before getting supplies at the fixed rate of N65. "I cannot buy from the black-market; but I have wasted time here. But I'm sure those who bought black-market since morning by now have made their money," he said.

Many of the filling stations sold the product at the official price, although buyers said they suspected the pumps were adjusted to give reduced quantities of the fuel that they bought.

When the scarcity occurred two weeks ago, officials of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation said that it was caused by panic buying by members of the public who had been afraid that the government was about to commence with its proposed deregulation. Sufficient supply

At that time, the commission's spokesperson, Levi Ajuonoma, however said the country has sufficient supply.

The return of the scarcity, that has created queues at filling stations resulting in increased transport fares, is said to have been caused by a warning strike by fuel tanker drivers who complained about bad roads, which they said affect product transit.

As at Sunday, Mr. Ajuonoma could not be reached either for confirmation of this or to explain the cause of the problem.