Once again, fuel scarcity has hit the capital Yaounde with filling stations jammed with taxis and bikes. Drivers are spending long hours to fetch fuel. Their frustration can be heard or seen on their faces as they curse angrily and wonder aloud if this could turn into real crisis. Perhaps, fearing any eminent street trouble, riot police have appeared on some streets.
Few days into the 2023 new year, fuel shortage is causing chaos in the capital city, Yaounde. Despite rumors floating all over social media in 2022 about the imminent increase in the price of fuel this new year, seemingly nothing has been done to fix the problem.
The reaction of the population on the matter at hand is diverse. Fuel consumers shared their feelings in an interview carried out at a feeling station in Biyem-assi.
"I personally think this is a strategy by the government to increase fuel prices. The price of almost everything but fuel has been doubled already. I suspect the government is intentionally freezing fuel to create this scarcity. It may be a planned act by them, to later on increase fuel prices." said Ngwa Nickson, a private car owner at a feeling station in Biyem-assi.
"I am a teacher and I decided to absent from school today because this may be the only chance I will get to fuel my car. I teach in the outskirts of town and this car is my main means of transportation" affirmed another client at the fuel station.
Countless private cars, taxis and bikes are out of circulation due to fuel shortage. On the other hand, certain feeling stations are jam-packed with consumers trying to buy fuel from the early hours of the morning up till late in the night.
"I have heard rumours since yesterday that a litter of super has moved from six hundred and thirty francs to about nine hundred francs. As you can see I am still in the queue. When my turn comes I will know whether or not the prices have really been increased." shared a lady waiting to buy fuel.
The reasons behind the fuel shortages across town are yet to be known. Besides suspecting the actors involved of hoarding fuel, several individuals have resorted to this act too. A significant number of persons have been in feeling stations with gallons, hoping to buy fuel. Many have testified to the fact that they already have some fuel stored at home, and want to get as much of fuel ad they can.
While some persons hoard fuel for personal use in future, others have attested to the fact that they intend later on selling the fuel in the future, when the feeling stations would have completely sold out what they have left of fuel.
For now, a few feeling stations are still operational while others have shut down. However, not all clients are satisfied due to the fact that their choices vary.
Sa'ah Siona Ikei, The Post Newspaper
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