FUEL SCARCITY

we have been having series of fuel scarcity in the country but the just of recent one is the worst.

It was recalled that money spent on election brought about owing of petroleum marketers which people claim are also tanker drivers.  But President Jonathan objected to that.  It was mentioned that the President owed marketers N160billion and had paid the money remaining N20billion.  But some also put it that the money was diverted to another sector.

My drive on this story is to the 'Tanker Drivers'.  The drivers decided to go on strike to frustrate Mr President Jonathan not knowing that they went on to punish Nigerians severely.  We plead with our tanker drivers to control their annoyance.  They should realize that their strikes always paralyse the whole system.  It knocked off all vehicles from the road and commuters were stranded, majority went on trekking.  Mr Tokunbo Korodo, South-West NUPENG Chairman even mentioned on 'TVC Station' that their strike was really disturbing and had paralysed the whole system.

My appeal also went to owners of petrol stations; now that tanker drivers have started lifting fuel. Petrol stations still sell it for N140 while the real price is N97 later reduced to N87.  This in effect ginger commercial drivers to escalate their bus fare.  For example, buses plying Palmgrove from Bariga is now N70 which was formally N50.  It was during a prior petrol scarcity that the fare was changed to N50, it was formally N30 when the crisis became resolved it didn't go back to N30 again.  Now, how are we sure this N70 charge will go back to N50.  That is a big question!

We plead with Tanker Drivers' to consider human beings before embarking on any strike whatsoever because their actions are always very deadly.

Sade Balogun (Oduntan)