Residents of Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, expressed their distress over the ongoing fuel scarcity affecting the city. They also voiced their concerns about the exorbitant transportation costs for journeys both within and outside the state capital.
Addressing the issue on Monday, they highlighted the persistent nature of the fuel shortage, despite various government efforts to alleviate it.
A civil servant, known only as Michael, shared his frustration, stating that he had to spend N1,000 to travel from his residence in the Ayekale area to the Osun State Government Secretariat.
“I took a commercial motorcycle to Ikirun road where I boarded a minibus to Abere. In all, I’ve spent more than N1,000 to get to the office this morning. Only God knows how much I will spend at the close of work because that is usually the rush hour.
“What is happening in Osogbo with regard to the high cost of everyday items is alien to us. I don’t know if we can cope with it,” he said.
Similarly, Tosin Odejimi, who revealed that he comes to Osogbo from Ife on a daily basis due to an academic engagement said he was not sure he would be able to make classes with the high cost of transportation.
“I could not board a bus from the motorpark from Ife to Osogbo today. It was N1,500 which is too expensive for me. I made do with staying by the roadside to flag down an oncoming bus.
“I pray that by the time I go back at the end of classes, I will get a bus going to Ife at N1,000.
“The more it gets dark, the more expensive it becomes,” he said.
Clement Ogunsusi, another civil servant, disclosed that if the situation remains the same by the end of the week, he will have to park his car and make do with public transportation.
This he said is due to the high cost and scarcity of petrol in Osogbo.
A parent, Kafayat Lawal, also revealed that her children would stay at home throughout the week.
According to her, “I never expected my experience on Monday. I was so discouraged that I almost took my children back home. I do not want to experience that stress again. Transportation was so high and on the first day of school resumption.
“The government should do something because it is really bad.”
Investigations have revealed significant price hikes in transportation fares across various routes in Osogbo. For instance, the fare from Owode-Ede to Olaiya Junction, which was N200 last week, has now surged to N300. Similarly, the minibus fare from the House of Assembly junction to the state government secretariat has doubled from N100 to N200.
Furthermore, commuters travelling from Ogo-Oluwa to Technical College now have to pay N300 instead of the previous N200, while the return trip from Technical College to Ogo-Oluwa costs N250. Additionally, the fare from Ogo-Oluwa to Olaiya Junction has risen from N100 to N200.
Commercial motorcyclists within Osogbo have also increased their fares by 200 per cent on various routes. Moreover, filling stations are experiencing long queues, with some deserted, indicating the onset of fuel scarcity. Motorists are distressed by the rising cost of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) per litre, nearing the N800 mark.
In response to these developments, the Osun State Government, through its taskforce on Petroleum Price Monitoring, has warned petrol station owners against hoarding petroleum products.
The warning was issued in a statement by the taskforce Chairman and the Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Kazeem Akinleye. The government said it came to the decision to issue the warning after surveillance reports indicated a trend towards hoarding of petrol by marketers.
Emphasizing the harsh economic conditions faced by the public, the government urged marketers to adopt fair pricing practices and cautioned that hoarders would face legal consequences.
