Just like how important water and air is to human being for daily activities and survival, the importance of fuel in day to day human activities cannot be over looked. Nigerians have continued to complain about the hardship caused by the scarcity of the liquid petroleum product within the country as businesses and other activities that depends solely on generator due to shortage and inconsistent power supply for power supply groan in darkness.
The importance of fuels in our daily lives and developing economy is not one thing to be take with levity because fuel is used for various activities ranging from production, mobility, cooking, electricity supply to source of foreign exchange to mention but few.
However, over the years, there has has been a shortage in the availability of the liquid commodity and it was on this basis that people started to look into the the possible causes and effects of its scarcity in the country.
The effects of fuel scarcity in Nigeria cannot be over emphasize for its scarcity has affect the living standard of people in various ways like; the increase in the cost of transportation, increase in cost of food items, social unrest and also lateness to duty or offices to some people and this has cost many their job.
However, having understudied the challenges and inconveniences caused by the shortage of the commodity in the country and there are some things that the country can do to create a lasting solution to the fuel scarcity.
Firstly, the Nigeria refineries need to be revamped. It is believed that Nigeria has refineries at Kaduna, Port Harcourt, and Warri but the reason all of them stopped working is a surprise to everyone as it is frustrating and confusing. If fuel scarcity must stop in Nigeria, all these refineries and new ones must start working to full capacity. Nigeria cannot have refineries and continue to refine its crude oil overseas and import the same.
Furthermore, government should allow private ownership of refineries as this will help relieve the government of the already over burden responsibilities they are to deliver to the citizens from all indications because Nigerian governments have woefully failed Nigerians in the matter of fuel scarcity in Nigeria so therefore the hope of Nigerians now can at least be put in private refineries while other people should also join the business to create competition as such competition would bring a permanent end to fuel scarcity in Nigeria.
In conclusion, government should make a law to punish those who hoard petroleum as they punish others for their own benefit. They make gains at the expense of others. These people cause artificial scarcity of fuel in Nigeria. Because they are sole marketers of the product, they store it in their depots, creating artificial scarcity of the product. Such scarcity would force people to buy the product at a higher price. Thus, they make higher gains after Nigerians have suffered. To stop the practice, the government should prosecute these saboteurs.
Written By: Olaiya Racheal Oluwaseunfunmi
Written by Olaiya Racheal Oluwaseunfunmi a student of Icon Universal Polytechnic, Osogbo.
