Less than 24 hours to the Kogi state gubernatorial election, the fuel scarcity bedeviling the nation has taken its tow on the people of the state.
Most of the people in Kogi state seem to be more bothered about getting fuel than looking forward to the election which will take place tomorrow, November 21.
Naij.com went round the state and observed that virtually all petrol stations selling the product had long queues and in some cases, rowdiness as people scramble to get the product.
Worst still is the fact that there will be no movement on Election Day so people are rushing to get fuel in order to have enough before, during and after the polls.
In Okene town, petrol was sold for 150 naira per litre by private owned petrol stations as the outlets of the established names in the downstream petroleum sector were under lock and key.
Despite the exorbitant price that the product was being sold for in Okene, many residents in the area joined the long queues to get their own fair share of petrol.
In Obajana, the situation was the same as long queues were seen in virtually all petrol stations dispensing the product.
The situation is worse in the state capital, Lokoja, as almost all the petroleum stations were selling a litre of petrol for N200.
A motorcyclist, Hassan Lawal, who spoke to Naij.com on the issue, stated that the people of the state were suffering since the start of the fuel scarcity; he called for an urgent intervention from the federal government.
“We are not concerned about the election for now as our struggle for our daily bread is muc h important, because without fuel, transporters cannot operate.
‘’Government should assist us in making sure the product is available everywhere and at the regular price so that we can operate freely,’’ Lawal said.
Meanwhile, government-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) petrol stations outlets in the state were all selling fuel at the usual N87 per litre, but the queues were so long at each outlet Naij.com visited.
A taxi operator, who simply gave his name as Darlington, was one of those on the long queue at the NNPC outlet in Lokoja, he stated that his decision to join the queue was because he cannot afford to buy fuel above N87 naira as it will affect his business.
Speaking in pidgin English, he said: ‘’My brother, no be me get this motor, I get money to deliver to the owner every day, so if I buy petrol for N150 or N200, how I wan take meet up with my delivery.’’
Below is a video of the typical scramble for fuel by people in Kogi state, this video was recorded in Okene town yesterday, November 19.
Meanwhile, the inspector general of police Solomon Arase today, November 20, ordered the deployment of seven senior officers to coordinate security operations in Kogi state.
In another development, Kogi state governor, Idris Wada has accused his Edo state counterpart, Adams Oshiomole of sponsoring cultists to disrupt tomorrow’s governorship election in Kogi state.
Most of the people in Kogi state seem to be more bothered about getting fuel than looking forward to the election which will take place tomorrow, November 21.
Naij.com went round the state and observed that virtually all petrol stations selling the product had long queues and in some cases, rowdiness as people scramble to get the product.
Worst still is the fact that there will be no movement on Election Day so people are rushing to get fuel in order to have enough before, during and after the polls.
In Okene town, petrol was sold for 150 naira per litre by private owned petrol stations as the outlets of the established names in the downstream petroleum sector were under lock and key.
Despite the exorbitant price that the product was being sold for in Okene, many residents in the area joined the long queues to get their own fair share of petrol.
In Obajana, the situation was the same as long queues were seen in virtually all petrol stations dispensing the product.
The situation is worse in the state capital, Lokoja, as almost all the petroleum stations were selling a litre of petrol for N200.
A motorcyclist, Hassan Lawal, who spoke to Naij.com on the issue, stated that the people of the state were suffering since the start of the fuel scarcity; he called for an urgent intervention from the federal government.
“We are not concerned about the election for now as our struggle for our daily bread is muc h important, because without fuel, transporters cannot operate.
‘’Government should assist us in making sure the product is available everywhere and at the regular price so that we can operate freely,’’ Lawal said.
Meanwhile, government-owned Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) petrol stations outlets in the state were all selling fuel at the usual N87 per litre, but the queues were so long at each outlet Naij.com visited.
A taxi operator, who simply gave his name as Darlington, was one of those on the long queue at the NNPC outlet in Lokoja, he stated that his decision to join the queue was because he cannot afford to buy fuel above N87 naira as it will affect his business.
Speaking in pidgin English, he said: ‘’My brother, no be me get this motor, I get money to deliver to the owner every day, so if I buy petrol for N150 or N200, how I wan take meet up with my delivery.’’
Below is a video of the typical scramble for fuel by people in Kogi state, this video was recorded in Okene town yesterday, November 19.
Meanwhile, the inspector general of police Solomon Arase today, November 20, ordered the deployment of seven senior officers to coordinate security operations in Kogi state.
In another development, Kogi state governor, Idris Wada has accused his Edo state counterpart, Adams Oshiomole of sponsoring cultists to disrupt tomorrow’s governorship election in Kogi state.
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