FUEL SCARCITY - SORRY MAY NOT BE ENOUGH.......

I have been inundated by well-meaning Nigerians, with calls and messages, to "Say SOMETHING" on the Social media on the lingering fuel issue at a period such as this. I must make it clear that I understand that nothing I say here would make anyone feeling better unless it can automatically translate to all of us, easily driving into Service stations to buy petrol at the official pump price.

Nevertheless, I must apologise for the added hardship this temporary situation is causing all of us. I also ask for your patience as a lasting solution is in the offing.

Then, there's this. Is there any adult in this nation who does not know that festive periods are when PETROL marketers create fuel scarcity in order to rip off the people of NIGERIA. It's a tradition that has its roots in the long years of PDP reign in Nigeria.

This government managed to curtail it in 2015. 2016 was a resounding success. Nigerians went about the difficult times without the added headache of long queues at service stations.

It's being alleged on National T.V. that some marketers are unhappy with the smooth flow of easier life for Nigerians and are sabotaging government efforts at making life easier for Nigerians.

But that's one side of a coin. Who has investigated the claims that this is a planned sabotage? Who has been interrogated? Who has been arrested? Who has been charged? Who has been convicted?

Seriously, as a nation, we have issues with the application of "CONSEQUENCES". And that's our major problem now. Many of those who are in charge of applying consequences are "Respecters of persons". When consequences are applied to a "big man", we want him freed because he's an industrialist. Not that he's innocent! It's not enough to leave Nigerians at the mercy of marketers who are clearly hoarding petroleum products. We must sanction them. We must!

Last night, some Police Officers were at the Banex Plaza-Gwarimpa stretch, arresting youngsters who were selling fuel in plastic cans. The Young men were released on payment of 
₦10,000 each.

These young men were not questioned to find out the Service stations that locked their stations against motorists, preferring to sell at night, at a higher cost to street fuel peddlers. Why are we this way? What is wrong with us? Why has no marketer been arrested or even invited for questioning? No one should be allowed to hold Nigerians to ransom.

When will we learn to have other Nigerians at the  heart of how we do our jobs? Why do we enjoy the sufferings of other people? How do we sleep at night after benefiting from the sufferings of other Nigerians?

Nigerians are going through a situation they had overcome in the last two years. It's my sincere wish that the beneficiaries of this economic sabotage should be named and shamed for starters. Then tried and jailed to serve as deterrent for any future sharp practices that affect the people of Nigerians adversely.

PLEASE don't tell me that I don't understand the underlying issues. I understand that some marketers are holding Nigerians captive and we are watching them get away with it.

I can only apologise to Nigerians for this sad situation, especially coming at this time of the year. Still, there's light at the end of this dark tunnel.

God Bless Nigeria.

Lauretta Onochie
@Laurestar