Transport Fares Soar, Commuters Stranded as Fuel Scarcity Returns to Lagos

Following the resurgence of fuel scarcity in some parts of Lagos last weekend, transport fares on Monday soared to about 100 per cent, which subsequently resulted to commuters being stranded at bus stops. 

Although the fuel scarcity began over the weekend, many did not take note because it was not a work day, thus they had no need to go to work. 

Media checks at different fuel stations on the mainland saw motorists and even pedestrians in their large numbers queuing up in fuel stations to purchase fuel.

Those queues were in few of the fuel stations that were opened for business as majority had closed shop.

From suburbs like Okota, Isolo, Ikotun, Egbeda, Iyana Ipaja, Jakande, Ago Palace Way to bustling areas like FESTAC Town, Oshodi, Ikeja, Surulere, Maryland, Mile2 and Satellite Town, the story was the same.

The resultant effect of the fuel scarcity was the rippling increase in transport fares by commercial yellow buses and motorcycles. 

Save for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), which was a sort of reprieve, as they maintained their fares, more commuters would have been stranded. 

Checks revealed that the reason for the large number of stranded commuters was because the commercial bus drivers who were forced to buy fuel from the black marketers at exorbitant prices, tried to recuperate their loss by hiking the cost of transportation.

In places where a usual ride would have cost N100, the conductors end up charging N200 and for motorcyclists their usual charge of N300 has gone up to N500.

Most motorists who spoke to journalists called on the federal government to rise to the occasion and save the citizenry from the perpetual suffering in the hands of marketers.

Meanwhile, to beat the nationwide fuel scarcity, checks revealed that Lagosians have been browbeaten to succumb to some unwholesome practices.

Although the fuel metres of all the filling stations which were visited read N145, which is the official price, some however sold their products between N180 to N200 per litre.

Also not left out in the price hike was the black market dealers, who sold their products for as high as N200 per litre to some desperate Lagosians.

Further checks showed that the few fuel stations which dispensed sought for extra gratification from the desperate buyers.

The extortion often starts from the fuel attendants to the security persons at the gate of the fuelstation, who one must tip off before they can actually purchase fuel.

It was gathered that the amount of money requested for as gratification depended on the medium used for purchase.

While those that bought with cars were charged N150 extra, those with Jerrycans were charged N100 for each gallon of fuel.