A cross section of commuters in the FCT on Wednesday called on the Federal Government to end the current spate of fuel scarcity in the country.
Making appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, the commuters said the untold hardship being experienced by the people should not be allowed to continue.
NAN reports that a large number of commuters were stranded at various bus stops and parks in the Kurudu, Jikwoyi, Nyanya, Kubwa and Airport Road suburbs due to lack of vehicles to get to town.
Transporters have also hiked their fares as the fees from Nyanya to Area One and Wuse which used to cost between N100 to N150 has been jerked up to N200.
At Kurudu, Jikwoyi and Nyanya Bus stops, large numbers of passengers were seen stranded and struggling to get vehicles to town.
However, most of the commuters, especially those on the Karshi-Nyanya axis, decried lack of the high capacity buses on the route as they would have been a great relief at this period.
Mr Paul Martins, a business man, said the fuel scarcity has caused untold hardship to the general citizenry which has made some people to be reluctant to go for their normal work and businesses.
Martins said most of the transporters who did not increase the transport fare were taking short cut to make up for the money they spend on fuel.
“Transporters choose to drop passengers at AYA round about, collecting the same amount that can take one to inside town then picking other passengers from there to Garki or Wuse.
“One should not blame the transporters because they are buying four litres of fuel at N1,000 from the unconventional sources, also known as black market.
“I pay higher these days to town, it has not been easy for many people too especially motorists, but we hope that the government would hasten to do something,’’ Martins urged.
Mrs Anne Agazie, a Public Servant told NAN that it has been difficult for her to get vehicle from her bus stop in Karu Site, a suburb of the FCT, since the fuel scarcity started.
“I hardly get commercial vehicles from the bus stop so I always pick a motorcycle to Nyanya or Karu fly over, sometimes to the Army check point at Kugbo Mechanic Village to enter motor to town.
“The fare charged by motorcyclists, popularly known as “Okada’’, has equally increased within my vicinity with N20.00 difference while that of going to town increased with N50 difference,’’ she said.
Mr Progress Ehirim, a Technician, said the he has resorted to riding on motorcycle from Kpeyigi to Nyanya on daily basis to get transport to town.
“It has not been easy for me, instead of waiting in vain at my bus stop, nowadays I pick bike to Nyanya to struggle for vehicle to town. I pay N200 from Nyanya to Wuse,” he said.
Another commuter, who pleaded for anonymity, urged the incoming administration to clear a lot of burden to be left by outgoing government.
He, however, noted the “government has directed the Finance Minster, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to pay with immediate effect all outstanding bills owed to oil marketers to end the scarcity.
“More are needed to be done so as to resolve the issue in the shortest time possible.’’
