Kunle Adelabu
-Fuel selling at N350, N180 in Ikorodu
It was an unusual welcome but not new to Nigerians, as virtually all the filling stations across the country shutdown following the announcement of the removal of the fuel subsidy by the 16th President and Commander – in – Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his first address to the nation.
Tinubu, had in his inaugural address after the Chief Justice of the Federation administered the oath of office on him, outlined his administration’s policy trust, one of which was the removal of petroleum subsidy.
He had announced that the immediate past administration of President Muhammadu Buhari did not provide for the subsidy in the 2023 budget. Following the announcement, many filling stations stopped selling fuel while citizens went into panic in expectation of scarcity of the commodity..
As it is across many cities in Nigeria, Ikorodu, which is the 12th largest city in Nigeria and third in the Southwestern part of the country, is not immuned from the effects of the Presidential pronouncement and ‘madness’ of hoarding by petroleum marketers in expectation of increase in price.
It was an hellish experience for many residents who resumed to work today as there was scarcity of commercial vehicles on the road due to hike in price of petrol, while the few available ones charged exorbitant fares.
The situation caused many workers and other people going out of Ikorodu to Lagos and other places for businesses, to be stranded, while many were forced to go back home.
School children were not left out of the ugly experiences as parents had to pay more to get their children and wards to schools. Many students and pupils whose parents could not cope with the increase in transport fares, had to trek long distances to their schools and went through same harrowing experience on their return journey home. Others had to return home and stayed away from school.
THE IMPACT went around three Council areas out of the six in Ikorodu Division – Ikorodu Local Government: Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area and Igbogbo/Bayeku Local Council Development Area (LCDA), to ascertain the situation in various filling stations and in the community generally.
Virtually all the filing stations in Igbogbo were not selling as at time our reporters visited. The NIPCO and Bond petrol stations close to the Igbogbo Cemetery, Oando filling station at Geregere, Conoil station adjacent to the Surulere Estate, Igbogbo, had their gates were firmly shut.
At Ipakodo area of Ikorodu West LCDA where we also visited this afternoon,the Oando station close to the Solebo Estate gate, Mobil at the T – Junction, Ipakodo, MALOK and Mobil stations beside the FI Bar, were selling fuel but there were long queues of vehicles, motorcycles and residents with jerry cans.
The situation was no different at Ikorodu Central Local Government where our reporter visited Smart filing station adjacent General Hospital, Ikorodu, Remdamson at Ojogbe in Ikorodu and Mobil at Owode/Oriwu College junction along the Oba Molaja Road, Ikorodu.
Speaking with a commercial motorcycle operator who refilled his tank at Remdamson, he said that the attendant sold the product at N350 per litre. He was corroborated by another resident who bought fuel inside a 5 litre jerry can.
Another motorcycle rider who carried our reporter from Ipakodo to Ojogbe, said that he purchased the product at N180 per litre at a Mobil station at Ogolonto earlier in the morning, adding that motorists also had to tipped the fuel attendant extra money after purchase.
An operator of a tricycle, popularly called ‘Keke Marwa’, also speaking with THE IMPACT, said that he had to buy 5 litre of fuel at N3500 earlier in the day from the black market when it was impossible to get the product.
Meanwhile, it was gathered that the NNPC at Itamaga is selling the product at N180.
There have also been outcry by residents on the social media on the increase of transport fares for various routes, by okada riders. Our reporter also experienced the situation while going around.
