It is increasingly likely that ugly scenes of last week’s scuffles and hassles over scarce fuel are set to repeat themselves as Fuel Tanker Drivers engage Lagos State Government in a repeat battle for Apapa supremacy. Already many filling stations have stopped selling fuel (likely hoarding it) and long queues have resumed in Lagos and Ibadan. As the public holiday on Friday draws near, the situation next week will be far from funny if the matter is not resolved once and for all. From all indications it is possible that the Government gave in to the Tanker drivers due to the upcoming Eyo festival, with no urgent ceremonies on the calendar, Lagos is set to stand agog again, and possibly for a longer time until someone gives in as there can only be one captain in a ship.
Of course, when elephants fight, the grass suffers the most. I did not say Lagosians were made of grass, please don’t quote me . You know these facts for sure:
No diesel, no business
No Petrol, no life at home
LagosMet advice: Save your A/C for the rainy day, and keep an average top speed of 85 Km/h. Avoid show offs and screeches, and above all, PLEASE avoid traffic (timing is important). Park the Range and the Benz at home, the Asian is your friend (you know what I mean?).
If you must leave the office, please leave now (Chelsea versus Barca is just 2 hours away) , if you must take leave, turn your forms in against next week… just in case.
Update: On my way home, saw loads of tankers on the road, I guess the issue has been resolved. I GUESS! and I do hope so. But unfortunately, confirmed reports from friends in Ibadan and Lagos have it that the scarcity is still very much in the air… NO FUEL!
Its Thursday, 30th of April, eve of May Day and the fuel situation is still mad. NO FUEL! no parole be dat. What a pity…
This does’t seem to be ready to die down at any time as the queues become longer, roads completely sealed off as a result and heavy traffic (even as fuel no dey). The struggle continues. Fuel Scarcity and strike with thanks to LASTMA. Na wa o. Eko o ni baje! Lasgidi jooo!
A scuffle, see video below
Mopols and escorts exercise their Man-given powers
today na today
How long can you stand?
Reading the fuel vending machine’s meter from the rooftop
8 hours and you are still on one spot, imagine!
Men sitting and sleeping on buses
Closer shot, long queues for cars and jerry cans
Day2, scarcity intensifies
Cars impatiently wait for their turns, indefinitely.
A clearer view of the AP filling station
A battle of “Kegs and Tanks”: Only the black marketers can survive
Awolowo Road 6 Filling stations, worst hit
Continuity: 21, April, 2009 Tuesday’s Lagos Fuel scarcity scenarios at a glance… entire gallery… at a glance
UPDATE: Strike was called off on Tuesday, the 21st of April, 2009.
I feel like brushing whoever is responsible for this self-induced scarcity at this time when things are tight. The impact of the scarcity (long queues and more hold ups wherever there is a filling station) was first felt on Friday morning and it lasted throughout the evening even until 12:00am. Many gas stations refused to sell while multitudes queued with cars, bikes and jerry cans (kegs) hoping God would touch the hearts of the Oil Masters. More than half of Lagos depends on petrol-fueled generators and no one wants to spend the weekend in darkness, after having worked 4:00am to 9:00pm on weekdays. I came back from the office on Friday with my tank at R and red meaning no weekend trip for me until a miracle comes through. Yesterday, Saturday ws equally bad, but this morning, things seem to be a bit much better around Ilupeju but from radio reports, some areas have not smelled petrol since Thursday. It rained and drizzled a lot yesterday, but today, the sky looks great and you won’t be drenched queuing and fighting to fill your tanks. If someone “bashes” you, sorry, there’s nothing you can do about it, cos it happened in a “scuffle” – please take note!
I have a feeling churches will be emptier than last Sundays as people hold on to their hopeful slots at heavy, unfriendly, violent and uncompromising queues. Trust touts and black market guys, a litre is now 250 naira – that’s if you are lucky. If you can’t buy, simply join the queue and waste your whole day. I’m buying 60 litres and there aint no way in hell that I could ever be tempted to pay 15,000 naira. Lai lai, no be me. I’m a Lagosian.
You don't wanna be here, I bet.
Just in case you didn’t know, the scarcity will definitely affect schedules, i mean visiting, shopping, worship, and even tripping. But on a serious note, I did not see a single BRT bus held up, instead they were going their normal business, bullish as ever on their dedicated lanes. They aren’t affected so… I’m digging out my coins, piling them up for a possible trip to work thanks to Lagos BRT, and it’s so cold I don’t have to pay double to board the LAGBUS with Air Conditioner, i’ll join the old old shock absorber-less Tata Buses. Lasgidi babe!
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It was discovered that the fuel scarcity was due in part to two factors. LASTMA officials impounded about 50 fuel tankers for parking on the Apapa Wharf Road, a dirty operation which ended in vandalism, and demanded the payment of 150,000 naira per tanker. Also, NUPENG and the PPPRA demanded at least 50 billion naira to be paid into their account (an amount being owed them by the government for fuel subsidy) and payment was made by electronic means on Monday, the 20th of April, 2009. The Lagos State Government cleared their part on Tuesday and the issue was resolved.
This week, I was shocked to hear that school teachers had gone on strike. Actually, traffic was kind of lighter than usual, this I mistakenly attributed to the on-going UEFA Champions league matches knowing fully well that Arsenal, Man-U and Chelsea (and some Liverpool) fans would like to watch the games live even if it meant staying back in the office or at home (call-in-sick). This Day made it clear (http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=136699) how pupils will be affected negatively by this development, final year pupils especially. I really don’t know why teachers so poorly paid have to fight tooth and nail to get an increase in the face of searing inflation, devaluation of the Naira (The naira was 117 naira to a dollar as at 28th of November) at 165 naira to a dollar. The lowly paid ones feel the ripple effect the most ranging from food stuff, house rent, health, transportation and clothing.
Credit Crunch
February was fast! If you are still paying up debts you “amassed” during the month of December, you can pay up this March as 30 days should make one more pay. But if you fell a victim during vals, with Easter likely to be on the way, don’t dip your hands into your pocket just yet. Okay if the teachers are complaining bitterly and even going on strike, they have every right to. People in the private sector dare not try that. The global credit disaster has left a lot of people unemployed as companies keep downsizing. At present, most companies instead of recruiting are relieving employees of their jobs and overworking the surviving ones. It’s a matter of holding on to your job. It was predicted that Nigeria would not be affected by the Credit Crunch but whoever published that probably forgot that at least 4 billion dollars is pumped into the Nigerian Economy by Nigerians in Diaspora. Already, many are returning from the UK to seek a better life in Lagos. Companies are reviewing budgets and are very reluctant to sign P.O.’s as the traffic indicators stand still on “RED”. Oceanic Bank for example did not retain a single Corper among the resently unleashed Batch A NYSC members. A very rare occurence in banks nowadays. GTB also sacked some members of staff for not showing up at the last annual retreat. The fact is most companies are seriously looking for ways to downsize, free up the wage bill and reduce operating expenses as much as possible. Will things get better soon? Do you expect a yes? Then keep tab on what’s happening to America and Obama’s mission of “Hope”. The obvious fact is that the credit crunch is affecting Nigeria regardless of what we initially thought. The earlier we address the issue the better. Address in the sense that we, as individuals, need to find alternatives and to battle hard to survive these times. It is purely coincidental that our Governor is trying to keep Lagos clean at the moment, thereby relieving people of their “jobs”. Coupled with the c.c., well, I just hope it won’t be long before everyone walks on the street carrying three things:
1. Audacity of Hope by Barrack Obama
2. The Holy Bible/Qu’ran
3. Revolver or Knife
Fuel Pump Price Hike
Okay, the FG has been subsdising the cost of fuel before I was born but really, I do not understand how after almost 50 years of independence we cannot refine enough crude oil for use or export and now we will be left at the mercy of “independent” marketers (IMs). Hmmm. Interesting. They’ve promised that prices are likely to be low (even without subsidy) since our IMs are not greedy milk-them-quick people. To have this coming in at this time of the GCC (Global Credit Crunch), I think it’s a welcome decision and hopefully that should boost the value of the Naira (Mr CBN won’t it?). It’s for our own good anyway, that’s what “they” said and I can only hope…
Click here to compare the price of petrol/gasoline in other parts of the world: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasoline_usage_and_pricing
Flood
Okay the rains are here again. And with on-going road reconstruction, it remains to be seen if this is one department where the Governor will score the least. Drainage has been a huge problem in the past, contributing to gridlocks (heaviest traffic), robbery, loss of homes and breakdown of vehicle not to mention, lateness to work. If Lagos can keep the floods away for once then we should have a pleasant March to August. Unfortunately, I don’t see us living this “good life” until sometime next year!
Buy Garri
Before I say bye – bye, I should remind you that the global credit crunch will not affect 4 things: Food, clothing, housing and Internet. If you are in any of these businesses, you should continue to live large. Obviously, music, movies, advertising, religion and education will continue to thrive. If you are thinking of investing heavily in electronics or automobiles, I think this is not a good time. Invest wisely and remember that the GCC is also affecting 419ers (visit www.419eater.com), don’t fall mugu to Land/Property/Mowe-Ibafo scams.
Happy New month!
I leave you with a video from Hon. Lekan Kamson… A must see.
. You know these facts for sure:
