Owing to the rise in petrol price and the scarcity of the product, protesters, mainly youths, on Thursday blocked the Lagos-Benin Expressway at Oluku junction.
According to Punch, commuters who were on their way to Lagos and those hoping to do business in the area were stranded for hours.
Transporters also decried the situation, while expressing dissatisfaction over the incident.
Grace Emmanuel, a trader, who was taking her perishable goods to Ekiadolor said it was pertinent for her move them to where she would sell them so as not to incur losses.
“It is unfortunate that this protesting is taking place because it will add to the existing problem. If I don’t get my good to where I will sell them, some might get worse and I will incur losses which I don’t want at this time.
“They are protesting for the right reasons. The fuel situation is hitting hard on everybody but blocking the roads will lead to losses to individuals who are going to do business,” she added.
A driver, identified as Osahon said the protest has left most people stranded in the axis, adding that the government should look into the cause of the fuel crisis.
Scarcity of fuel has lingered since November, 2022 and is further worsened by the disparity in pump prices of the commodity across the country.
The federal government also denied increasing the price of petrol to N185 per litre from N170 per litre following the declaration by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) that the price had been changed.
However, Information Nigeria gathered on Wednesday that fuel stations formerly selling at N170 per litre have now adjusted pump price to N185 per litre.
While there is uncertainty as to the reason for the prolonged scarcity, the IPMAN had said the volume of petrol supplied to marketers by private depots have dropped by about 40 percent, forcing a few with the products to sell at exorbitant prices.
