Hardship caused by the rising fuel price has continued to increase in Edo State forcing residents, who blamed black marketers, to protest in Benin City on Monday, ADEYINKA ADEDIPE writes
When the broadcast heralding the protest against the hike in fuel prices in Edo State was made through several online platforms on Sunday, the residents of Benin City knew what to expect on January 30, the day set aside by the civil society organisations for the protest.
The tone of the message indicated that the organisers were ready to shut down the city to press home their demand for a reduction in the price of fuel, which was selling for over N500 per litre.
In an online pamphlet by the organisers, places earmarked for the protest were the main gate of the University of Benin (Ugbowo), Sapele Road by Limit Junction, Ramat by Aduwawa, Ring Road, Adesuwa by Government Reserved Area, Country Home Road by Ugbor Road, Ogheghe by Sapale Road Bye Pass, Edo Street in Irhirhi, and Plymouth Road off Ekhehuan Road.
On the day of the protest, most private schools did not open for business. School authorities sent text messages to parents as early as 6am notifying them that classes would not hold and urging the parents to keep their children at home due to the planned protest. Motorists who had the courage to come out were seen hanging leaves on their windscreens in solidarity, while others who had no pressing business to do in town stayed indoors, a sensible decision under the prevailing situation.
To prevent a breakdown in law and order, there was a heavy presence of security operatives on Ring Road and other areas where the protest was to take place. There were also security personnel in other parts of the town, as the state government was prepared to ensure that the protest was not hijacked by hoodlums.
On Tuesday, The PUNCH gathered that hoodlums in Evbuotubu and Ugbuyioko roads were burning tyres on tarred roads in an attempt to hijack the protest, while the Uselu axis on the Lagos-Benin Expressway was blocked by the mob.
However, security operatives and Edo State Civil Society Organisations, led by its former General Coordinator, Comrade Omobude Agho, went there to disperse them and let them (the protesters) know the need to keep the protest peaceful.
Agho said those burning tyres on the road cannot be described as hoodlums, but rather aggrieved members of the public who felt that was the only way they could express their grievances. He stated that unfulfilled promises on the part of the government at the state and federal levels led to the protest.
He said, “The protest, though suspended, has been very effective because the government came out with a statement to address the situation for the first time since the fuel crisis began. We have also met with the Commissioner for Communication and Orientation, Chris Nekhihare, and his Mining and Energy counterpart, Ethan Uzamere, where decisions were taken to find a solution to the problem.
“I would not want to agree that those burning tyres are hoodlums, but they are members of the public who, in their way, are reacting in that manner. We support them but urge them not to destroy properties. You cannot beat a child and tell that child not to cry. This fuel crisis has been going on for a few weeks, and the government at the federal and state levels has kept quiet as if it were not a problem.
“So what does the government expect the people to do? The lizard is invited into the house by the person who brings in an ant-infested log of wood. So those people who are burning tyres are not hoodlums, and they have the right to protest.
“We were able to diffuse the situation because the people know us and they trust us. The police cordoned off the place, and we were able to move in and talk to them; they removed the barricade, and we were able to calm the situation. People will trust the government if it communicates effectively with them.
“There is no trust between the government and the people because the political class and, by extension, the government have made several unfulfilled promises. People have lost confidence in them, even if the politicians come with good intentions. And because the people do not believe them anymore, the civil society comes in to fill the gap.”
He also urged the government to check the activities of black marketers, who he said were conniving with unscrupulous fuel station attendants.
He added, “Black marketers should be discouraged so that the fuel can stay at the fuel stations where people can get the products from. Anywhere you see black marketers, pursue them, and don’t pity them because they are poor. Anyone who is wicked, whether poor or rich, is wicked.
“Anywhere we catch a black marketer, we will seize the fuel, and we will convert it, and if you don’t have anything to do with the fuel, throw them away. So, when those on the black market don’t have the fuel, the filling stations will be forced to sell at the correct price.
“Also, the filling stations that are selling above the federal government agreed price will begin to be picketed. We know them, we know where they are, and we shall get them,” he added.
The Speaker of the Talakawa Parliament, Kola Edokpayi, said the protest was done because of the frustrating situation that is confronting the people of the state.
He said, “On Monday, we went on to the street to protest because we are frustrated. We went out to vent our anger over the fuel crisis rocking the state. Fuel is selling for between N350 and N700 at the fuel stations, while black marketers are selling it for N1000. This is only happening in Edo, as the product is sold at its normal price in many states.
“We took our protest to the government house, where we were received by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Marcus Onobun, and we submitted our communiqué to him. A few hours later, the government issued a statement announcing the formation of a Petroleum Monitoring Committee, which we welcomed.
“We then decided to suspend the protest on Tuesday. But to our surprise, some people came out on Tuesday in different areas to burn tyres. We visited Ramat Park, Lucky Way, and New Benin, where we spoke to them about suspending the protest. However, there was still some protest in Uselu Shell.
“Hopefully, after the government comes up with a plan to end the fuel crisis, the protesters will leave the streets. We want to say that a responsive and responsible government should not wait for people to protest before doing the right thing.
“At areas where the hoodlums are bent on taking over the protest despite the suspension, we told them that the security operatives have the power to arrest them,” he added.
With efforts to boost the availability of the product and reduce its price, the Edo State Government on Tuesday revealed that the state has received 780,000 litres of product with an assurance to end the crisis. The state government said that the task force it set up to monitor the distribution and sale of the product at the fuel stations has begun work.
At a press conference, the Commissioner for Mining and Energy, Ethan Uzamere, said that the supplied product would be distributed among major and independent marketers. The commissioner stressed that the state government would monitor the sales of fuel to ensure that members of the public were not exploited by the operators of the fuel stations.
Nehikhare said that “the issue of the welfare of the citizens of Edo State is very crucial, and the government takes that seriously. We understand the issue of fuel scarcity, and we take that issue very seriously. Though distribution is not done here in Edo State, we will ensure the quantity allocated to Edo State is retained and sold here. No single litre of the 780,000 litres will be allowed to be diverted.”
He commended the civil society organisations for the maturity displayed in handling the protest, promising that the government would continue to engage all stakeholders in a bid to find lasting solutions to the issue.
Osagie, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media, stated that one of the task force’s responsibilities would be to monitor pricing in the state.
“We want to warn people who jack up their prices that anyone who is caught will be severely punished according to the dictates of the law. The government will not take prisoners in that regard, as no Edo person is exploited. We will guard against subjecting the Edo people to pain. This government is committed and will go to any length to ensure normal petrol pricing in the state,” Osagie added.
A motorist, Niyi Ololade, who spoke to The PUNCH on Tuesday, said it was disheartening that Nigeria could degenerate to this level.
“I would not believe it if someone told me that we would have to queue for fuel in this country,” he said.
“I cannot afford to buy at over N500 per litre; that is why I come to the NNPC mega station to queue for fuel. I also spend quality time here, but there is nothing I can do because I cannot afford to buy at other filling stations that sell for above N500.
“I must call on the government to find a solution to this problem before it degenerates further, as the protest might cause more problems for the country and the state,” he added.
A business woman who sells on Lagos Street but pleaded anonymity said the protest is compounding the problem of the naira swap as business has been dull for about five days.
She added, “We couldn’t open early today because of the fear of being attacked by hoodlums who are masquerading as protesters. Already, we are suffering from the naira swap problem and the protest, which have compounded the issue. I hear the protest has been suspended, but we have to look over our shoulders before we open for business.”
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