Fuel scarcity: Hawkers sell cheaper than filling stations — Investigation

Nigerians have not seen the last of the current petrol scarcity in the country as some funny developments have continued to emerge by the day.

The most amusing one presently is that fuel is now sold cheaper by hawkers when compared to the pump price at filling stations.

Vanguard investigation revealed that fuel is sold at #1,000 per litre by hawkers along Mile 2-Apapa expressway as against #1,070 and more at most filling stations controlled by independent marketers.
Apart from major distributors like Mobil, Total, Ardova Plc (formerly Forte oil), MRS, and Eternal filling stations, other are dispensing petrol at between #1,070 to #1,400 per litre.

Vanguard investigations further showed that while fuel might not be available at some filling stations, motorists could easily find any quantity to buy from the nearby hawkers displaying the product mostly in white gallons.

Investigations revealed that these hawkers never run out of product and they are sure of constant supply from tanker drivers at night who give them the fuel at give-away prices.

Although the hawkers were not ready to disclose their source of procurement, some people also doing business in the area said that the tanker drivers supplied the fuel to the boys without minding the loss to the owners of the product.

“My brother, you need to come around here at night when this lucrative business is going on and the kind of money that exchanges hands.

“I’m even considering joining them but I doubt if they would sell to me. The business is coded.
“The drivers know their customers and they do not hesitate selling to them,” a young man who wouldn’t like to be identified told Vanguard.

Meanwhile, a young man who told our reporter that he was rescued a few days ago, when he ran out of fuel by the hawkers described them as God-sent.

“I ran out of fuel in the traffic along Mile-2 expressway and only God knows what would have happened to me if these hawkers were not there to sell petrol,” he said.

The man further said, “My car dashboard showed the amber light from Lekki, my place of work and I was looking out for a place to top my fuel but couldn’t find any on the road. “The car finally stopped around Mile-2 at 8:30pm in traffic. I had no option than to patronize the hawkers who graciously sold petrol to me at #1,000 per litre. In fact I was ready to pay more for it, given how urgent I needed it.

“Maybe, I would have been attacked by hoodlums if not for the intervention of the hawkers who came handy with the product.”

The situation has become so critical that most motorists see the fuel by the hawkers as the last option and would target to buy form them at anytime of the day or night.

Some buyers who patronize these petrol sellers confirmed that apart from the competitive pricing, the petrol sold by the hawkers is of the same quality with what is available at the filling stations.

All kind of cars, including exotic ones buy petrol from these hawkers.

A bus driver who would not like his name mentioned said that since the scarcity started few weeks ago, he had never visited a filling station.

He said: “I can’t stand the queue. I rather buy the fuel at the same price or even cheaper from the hawkers than to queue up at the filling stations for many hours. Even at that, which filling station sells fuel twice a week in Lagos?”

As it stands now, Nigerians and indeed motorists are at the mercy of filling stations. Unlike in those days when filling stations would canvass for motorists to drive in and buy from their stations and even offered complimentary services like cleaning your windscreen, and giving drivers tips on how to keep their engine running among other offers.

Meanwhile, a trailer driver who spoke to Vanguard on condition of anonymity said that he was aware of deals by some drivers and their motor boys but declared that he would never join in the fraud.

It is a common sight to see the hawkers during the day and late night siting on the pavement in between the the expressway waiting for some motorists to run out of fuel. The line stretches from Mile 2 to Apapa Wharf everyday.