5 BENEFITS OF NIGERIA FUEL CRISIS

For every dark cloud, there is a silver lining. The current fuel crisis that have held majority of Nigerians on their knees begging for mercy is not without its benefits; legally or illegally.

In this article, we look at 5 benefits of the current fuel crisis.

i. NEED FOR ALTERNATIVE SOURCES OF ENERGY

The current fuel crisis is a huge eye-opener on the need for our dear country to look inward, strategize and develop/promote alternative means of energy. With less than 7weeks of fuel scarcity, several high profile companies in Nigeria including telecoms and banking have been reaching out to customers informing them of a possible break in transmission or inconsistence in quality of service. It is however now clear to most them that it is important for them to start considering other sources of energy in other to fore-stall future re-occurrence of the shortage.

ii. PRUDENCY IN POWER USAGE BY NIGERIANS

Unavailability of fuel has forced Nigerians with carefree attitude towards power usage to begin to see caution. Nigerians for instance without fuel shortage while on generator during day-time would put on everything in their apartment from the TV set in the sitting room, bedroom to the smallest bulb in the pantry  but in the season of fuel shortage, it was a different ball game. A fashion designer in my area for instance who normally while on “better pass” gen would put on his 2electric sowing machines as well as a radio and a fan refused to do so citing the need for him to save energy and maximize the use of the little available fuel.

iii. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY

The fuel scarcity while stylishly closing/leading to the intermittent closure of several businesses and reducing the hope of starting new ones is also providing a means of business or employment opportunity to several others. It is no doubt that a lot of Nigerians want the FG to put quickly put an end to the lingering fuel scarcity, a host of others simply want it to continue. If you take a walk to Onipan through Fadeyi, Ikorodu Road, Lagos during the peak of the scarcity, you will notice quit a number of able bodied young men taking advantage of the situation by selling fuel in 10litres jerry-cans popularly known as “black-market”. To these set of people, the plight of majority of Nigerians has suddenly turned to a source of income  and they hope it remain the same so they can continue to put food on their table not minding the ripple effect- inflation it may generate.

iv. HIGHER SOURCE OF INCOME

The lingering fuel scarcity has led to an increase in inflation. Inflation in a lay man’s language is a situation whereby more money is chasing fewer goods i.e demand is considerably higher than supply thereby leading to a sharp increase in price of such goods/services. Business owners have increased the price of their commodities owing to an increase in pump price which has in-turn affected logistics. Some business owners who are not directly affected by the crisis are also taking advantage of the situation to make more profit. A shoe shiner (shoe maker) was contracted to help in polishing a pair of shoe, the tall dark-skinned man said “oga…na N40 o. you know everything don put money as fuel no dey now”. I began to wonder what fuel crisis has got to do with shinning a shoe. As far as I know, the price of shoe polish has not increased and fuel is not needed to power the hand of the shoe-shiner. It is just an opportunity to make more money.

v. EYE-OPENER TO GOVT.’S HIGH LEVEL OF INSENSITIVITY

When over 200 girls were abducted and the govt. of the day chose not to believe, investigate and take action for about 16days, some said the govt. was not properly informed, some think they needed more time to be sure they (#ChibokGirls) were truly abducted while others believe the govt. failed.

The present administration has been termed by many as incompetent, careless and clueless about the welfare of its citizenry but not many could ascertain its level of carelessness and insensitivity to pressing issues. The current fuel crisis which has been allowed to linger for too long to the extent that small, medium and large scale businesses are begging for mercy is an eye-opener for many. The govt. for a few weeks has alleged sabotage as the reason for the crisis; but the question on the lips of many Nigerians is- who is to curb sabotage? They wonder why the people elected to lead them keep passing bulk; blaming others for their incompetence when they are in control of all apparatus and can be more firm & decisive.