By Muideen Adebayo Ibrahim (MAI)

The Iconic Late Fela Anikulapo A.K.A Abami Eda released a hit song in 1978 entitled " *Shuffering and Shmiling*" (Suffering and Smiling).

"Suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer, suffer for world.
Na your fault be that
Me I say: na your fault be that".

The lyrics is quite long and due to space constraint, let's leave it at that please.

It is not out of point to say that the late Abami Eda was a Prophet in his own right because some of the things he sang about have come to pass and even getting worse.

We have no option than to keep smiling despite the untold hardships melted to Nigerians by the actions and/or inactions of this government.

There is a Yoruba proverb which says; *Kaka ko san fun iya aje owa nfi gbogbo omo bibi re bi obirin, eiye wa nyi lu eiye* (Instead of things improving with the witch, she has female children who will become witches in their turn, vampire bird is added to vampire bird).

Frankly speaking, the situation of things in Nigeria is becoming more critical and rather that things to come down, they are going up unabated.

We woke up on Monday 29th April, 2024 to another serious fuel scarcity.

Most of the filing stations are under lock and key.

Nigerians were caught napping.

There were fewer buses and even cars on the roads. Most of them were on long queues at the various filing stations.

To add salt to injury, fuel price has skyrocketed.

Some filing stations sold fuel at N860/liter whilst others sold at N900/liter and even more in some cases.

The few ones that sold at the normal price of N580/litre collected money ranging from N500.00 to N1,000.00 aside from what you will buy and pay for after they might have dispensed fuel.

The spiral effects of this sudden fuel scarcity can better be imagined than described.

Some of which are: Prices of goods and services have gone up astronomically immediately, transportation fare has also increased immediately even more than 200% in some instances. Manufactured goods would be adversely affected as well. School fees, cost of drugs and what have you would be adversely affected. Which way Nigeria please?

Nigerians are groining now, they are helpless and harpless.

This writer is of the opinion that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should please step in without further delay and give a marching order to the NNPC to ensure that fuel is made available to Nigerians immediately instead of the two weeks they said the scarcity will linger on for. NNPCL does not have any excuse for the current fuel scarcity at all. It shows that theu lack proper planning.

When the subsidy on fuel was removed, one of the arguments they used to cajoled Nigerians is that there won't be scarcity of fuel any longer.

But as it were, we are now back to square one.

It is sad and disheartening that we are experiencing fuel scarcity at a time like this when the interest rate it very high, naira is devalued and no longer strong whilst the purchasing power is extremely low.

The National Assembly should also step in and invite the Group GMD/CEO of NNPCL to shed light on why their is scarcity of fuel at a time like this and implore him to ensure that fuel is available for Nigeria without further delay.

Aside from the above, all the necessary supports should be given to Dangote Refinery to churn out PMS on time since more Nigerians need it even more than diesel that Dangote Refinery has churned out.

The government should be very sensitive enough and give Nigerians real dividend of democracy so that Nigerians will not Japa any longer.

The earlier the government looks into this current fuel scarcity the better so that Nigerians can live better lives and enjoy dividend of democracy to the fullest in the spirit of good governance and apt leadership.

It is well with Nigeria and Nigerians.

April 29, 2024

*MAI* is an Entrepreneur and a Social Commentator.