Fuel scarcity paralyses economic activities in Ondo

Commercial and social activities were paralysed in Ondo State as the lingering scarcity of petroleum products (petrol) bites harder in the state, with motorist and commuters stranded on the roads.

The scarcity has extended to other parts of the state while drivers and commuters have started feeling the heat, as many drivers could not get petrol.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that the product was unavailable in most of the filling stations in Akure, Ondo, Ore, and Igbara-Oke, while a few stations with fuel sold it between N150 and N220 per litre.

Further findings revealed that most of the filling stations were not likely to be hoarding the product, as long queues were noticed in some of the few stations selling fuel.

A long queue was also noticed in a few filling stations that sold it at the official N145 pump price, affecting vehicular movement.

The state workers who were stranded on the road resulted to trekking to their various offices while the development adversely affected social and commercial activities in the state due to the fuel scarcity.

Speaking with our correspondent, a trader at the popular Afunbiowo market,  Mrs Hilda Ajayi, said the scarcity of fuel has been taking its toll on the sales of the product in the market.

According to her,  they have been recording low sales since the scarcity of fuel started some ten days ago but said the turn of events in the last two days is unbearable

She said “this is festive period and we are looking forward to making money at this period but with the fuel scarcity, many could not afford to come to the market”

A commercial driver in Akure,  Akin Oluremi said “despite fighting and struggling to buy fuel at the station,  we have been experiencing low sales. People are not coming out and those who go out complain about the hike in the price of the fare. I cannot afford to buy a liter of fuel for N220 and expect me to charge N50 per drop.

A commuter,  Ibrahim Khaleel said “I had to trek from Isikan road to Oba Adesida early this morning because I couldn’t get a bike that would pick me for N50.  I can’t get a taxi, either.”

Apart from this, business ventures, salons, restaurants, hotels, and bars in the town are now grappling with the scarcity of fuel and its implications for their businesses.

Some of these businesses have shut down, most of them could not afford to run on their generating sets due to the shortage of petrol causing them close their shops.

“We can’t put on our generators as we used to do because the product is very now scarce everywhere in the city,” a hairdresser said.

A motorcyclist rider disclosed to our correspondent that he bought a liter of petrol at the rate of N180 along Akure/Owo road and said “we even begged them before they sell to us because they are not selling to Okada riders.