Commuters Stranded As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder In Oyo

Residents and commuters in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, as well as other parts of the state were stranded on Tuesday with the prevailing scarcity of petrol bites harder across the state.

Commuters and travelers are largely affected by the scarcity resulting in the withdrawal of commercial buses, motorcycles, and tricycles from major routes due to inability to purchase the product.

The development which was noticed in the early hours of Monday has continued unabated on Tuesday.

Commuters in some areas including Apete, Awotan, Sango, Mokola, and Agodi Gate, Idi-Ape, Akobo, Iwo Road, Montan, Agbowo, University of Ibadan, Mokola, Total Garden, Secretariat Road, Ijokodo and Bodija were seen in large numbers waiting for unavailable means of transportation.

In locations with few commercial buses, motorcycles, and tricycles, fare prices have been exorbitantly increased as a result of the scarcity, leaving many people stranded at bus stops, while residents who have short distances to cover were seen trekking.

Transporters now charge N200 from Sango to UI from the previous N100, while a tricycle trip from Mokola to Gate, which used to be N150 is now N200; Mokola to Bodija which was N200 before is now N300.

A resident identified as Tolu, lamented the cost of transportation after spending N1, 000 to board a motorcycle from the University College Hospital (UCH) to the University of Ibadan.

“It is worrisome, I spent N1,000 from UCH to UI today. There is no fuel and I can’t even bring my car. There is no road. Majority of the roads are blocked to queues at filling stations,” she said.

Some residents have appealed to the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde to immediately constitute a taskforce to force filling stations which they believed to be hoarding products to begin sale of the fuel.