Nigerians queue for non-existent fuel and cash
Nigerians have to start the year on a very rough note as they struggle for both non-existent fuel and cash, two important things that make an economy run.
Very early in the morning you find motorists queuing for petrol at the locked filling stations. They would sit in their cars, buses, or on their motorcycles expecting the filling stations to sell non-existent fuel.
The roads are now deserted largely due to the unavailability of petrol, which is now far more costly than expected. Nigerians had never had it this bad for them. Of course, they wouldn’t mind if the commodity is available. The fact that they have to queue for hours before they can buy little is frustrating.
It is even more frustrating because neither the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) nor the presidency has come up to explain what’s happening. They have also failed to tell the people when the crisis will be over.
A check at Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State, shows that long queues at Bovas and SAO filling out caused gridlocks for the few vehicles that are able to get fuel. The NNPC outlets in the city don’t have what to sell. This makes one wonder what’s exactly happening in the country.
The election is only one month away. The ruling All Progressives Congress ought to be up and doing to make life more comfortable for the people. That can convince them to vote for the party once again at all levels. But otherwise is the case. The same voters endlessly queue for non-existent fuel and cash.
Nigerians also struggle for cash at the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) across the country. Virtually all the ATM galleries are overwhelmed by people who need the new naira notes. But the money deposit banks aren’t stuffing the machines with cash (old or new).
Customers have to move from one bank ATM to another all in the struggle to get cash for personal or business use. How does an economy grow in this bleak system? It’s unfathomable that it will rather be worse for Nigerians who have passed through a lot.
Still at the banks, there are long lines of customers who want to deposit the old notes. Mr. Godwin Emefiele, the Central Bank of Nigeria governor has clearly insisted that the apex bank wouldn’t extend the deadline it set for the old naira notes.
Nigerians want to deposit the old notes, however, the long queue is a serious setback for them. Some had to go back home when it became crystal clear that it wouldn’t reach their turn.
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