By Taiwo Akinrinlola.
Nigerians are experiencing the worst hardships ever witnessed in recent times occasioned by the lingering Fuel SCARCITY and inability to access the newly redesigned naira notes.
As at the close of work on Friday 27th January, many people were still waiting in vain at the banks Automated Teller Machines (ATM) points with the hope of accessing the new notes, even as motorists were seen waiting endlessly at filling stations to buy petrol despite the fact that the product now sells for between #300 and#350 per litre, depending on the discretion, whims and caprices of stations owners.
Newspot.ng visited some banks within Ibadan metropolis to ascertain the situations and findings showed agonies and disappointments.
At the UBA, J Allen Dugbe in Ibadan for instance, A customer, having got frustrated at the ATM point in his bid to cash funds went inside the bank, only to be told again that new notes were not available. The customer resorted to withdraw #40, 000 , all in #100 denomination.
Reports from Southwest cities, pump prices are being sold without uniformity. Ekiti sells between N400 and 500. Ondo between N500 and N700.
At the Polaris main branch in Dugbe, it was the same story. The situation was replicated in all the banks visited.
To compound problems, sellers, expecially food stuffs have refused to collect the old notes in exchange for goods purchased. Many have even closed their shops to avert the risk of taking the old notes.
Those who spoke with Newspot.ng lamented the unpredictable hunger that may bite hard in many homes as a result of this.
To worsen the situation, many banks have refused to load their ATM with currency, either old or new. This development has given the Point of Sales (POS) agents a good opportunity to dispense the huge amount of the old notes to frustrated customers.
Also at the filling stations, the situation has become so chaotic and very riotous. Buyers were seen venting angers on one another.
Those who spoke to Newspot.ng expressed their frustration at getting the product. Long queues were seen at the few petrol stations that were dispensing with some buyers spending long hours before getting to buy.
One Mrs Tayo Ogunleye told Newspot.ng that she had been on the queue at the NNPC Apata as early as 6am and was still there at 5pm when Newspot.ng visited.
At Bovas stations, the situation, though orderly had large gathering of buyers, both commercial and private vehicles, due to the fact that they were selling at the normal recommended price.
As situation stands Nigerians are helplessly and eagerly waiting solutions to the problems.
One frustrated man with his hands holding his head said: ” This is more than suffering and smiling. We are in hell on earth!!!”.
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