Abuja motorists suffer long queues despite rising petrol prices – News – The Guardian Nigeria News – Nigeria and World News

Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) continue to face long queues at petrol stations despite a sharp increase in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.

The pump price, which has increased from N195 per liter at the beginning of 2023 to between N1,030 and N1,200, has failed to ease fuel scarcity in the city. Residents and motorists who spoke to The Guardian expressed their frustration and questioned the justification for removing the fuel subsidy, which they say has only added to the hardship.

Despite the increased prices, many drivers wait at least 30 minutes in line to refuel their vehicles. Successive governments and players in the oil industry have blamed the shortage on the diversion of fuel to neighboring countries, where it is sold at higher prices.

To curb this illegal activity, President Bola Tinubu announced the withdrawal of fuel subsidy upon assuming office. However, the decision has led to an increase in fuel prices without solving the supply problems.

One of the affected motorists, Mr Okwudili Ezekiel, a taxi driver from Jabi area, lamented the time wasted in queues, which could have been used to earn a living.

“I spend hours queuing to buy fuel, and even when I manage to get passengers, I can hardly recover the cost of fuel. I buy 25,000 euros worth of fuel, but most days I don’t earn more than 10,000 euros. Passengers do not understand our struggle just to get fuel and still expect to pay the same fares,” he said.

Ezequiel added that, although some taxi drivers have stopped working because of the fuel crisis, he has no choice but to continue since it is his only source of income.

“It has become much more difficult. We spend at least 30 minutes in line to get fuel, and then the next challenge is to find passengers,” he said. Another taxi operator, Nwabueze, echoed his concerns, saying the rising cost of transport has made people avoid unnecessary journeys.

“The fuel we buy is wasted as we drive around looking for passengers. Even bus stops, where we used to reliably find passengers, are no longer viable and we sometimes wait up to four hours to load up” , he said.

Mr David, another motorist, shared his frustration, explaining that the daily struggle to get fuel far outweighs the returns. “Many motorists are now turning to the black market, where fuel is sold at inflated prices right outside petrol stations,” he said. David called on the Federal Government to urgently address the recurring fuel shortage and consider the plight of Nigerians.