Black market operators have hijacked President Goodluck Jonathan ‘political kerosene’ in his home state, Bayelsa.
The kerosene, expected to be sold for N50
per litre, has skyrocketed to N100 per litre due to the activities of
black marketers that abound at most designated mega filling stations in
Yenagoa metropolis.
For many consumers, the kerosene has
become a source of agony, despair and nightmare as they could not get
the commodity because they refused to go through the black marketers.
Apart from the activities of the black
marketers, who they accused of conniving with some attendants, they also
flayed the lawlessness of some security operatives.
They alleged that the security officials
usually came with more than the required 25-litre jerrycan and would
head straight for the pump and forced attendants to sell to them.
It was learnt that some consumers got to
the station as early as 5am, yet they could not buy the product after
queuing for long hours.
A consumer, who gave her name only as Veronica, lamented the agony she was exposed to in an attempt to buy the product.
She said, “Imagine, I have been here for
close to eight hours, yet it has not reached my turn. But in my
presence, some people came and they sold to them.
“This is unfair. I had thought that
coming to buy the kerosene at N50 per litre would ease my problem, but I
can tell you, I am in a deeper problem. I have been here since and all
the things I am supposed to do are lying at home. As it is, I cannot
even say when I will leave this station.”
Another consumer, Benedicta John, said he could only buy the product after coughing up N1,500 bribe to a black marketer.
“They (black marketers) are all over the
place here. If you must leave here on time, you must go through them.
When I purchased my 25-litre kerosene, I paid N1,500 to the attendants
and was asked to give another N1,500 to the man who facilitated my
transaction.
“I wonder when this country will be
corruption free. Some people capitalise on every situation to rip others
off. I came here with happiness that I was coming to buy kerosene for
N50 per litre, but now my joy has been killed.”
A tout, who gave his name as Preye, said he saw the situation as an opportunity to make money.
“Nothing goes for nothing. I charge
people before I go to the attendants. Whatever comes out of it, I take
my share and give those who also facilitate the business.
“That is the way it works. You know this
is Nigeria. Those who refuse to go through us have to wait for a very
long time before they can buy. It is left to them to choose between
greasing our palms or waiting there for long. “
When contacted, Bayelsa State
Coordinator, Kerosene Correct, Anderson Obere, said he and his team were
there to ensure that the price was not more than the agreed N50 per
litre.
He said so far, attendants dispensed kerosene at the agreed price.
Our correspondent’s visit to some mega
filling stations, including the one at the Sani Abacha Expressway,
revealed that the price on the dispenser was N50 per litre of kerosene.
It was also noticed that long queues of
consumers were present at the stations with consumers complaining
bitterly about the ill treatment meted out to them by attendants and
security personnel controlling crowds.
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