SUNDAY MORNING N100 FUEL DRAMA – by Frank Ofili

6.15am, 24th April 2016. Mubostic Filling Station, opposite NNPC depot Ejigbo, Lagos

I always patronize this filling station  not because it is the only one around, but because it happens to be on my regular route and I always find it convenient to buy fuel here anytime and every time I am in need of the product. The owner and I have met a couple of times; all his employees know me too and they know I always patronize them. Sometimes we exchange the usual Lagos banters.  

This morning, I drove in at about 6.15am. They are selling fuel at N140.00 per litre. First offense, but I don't mind, given the current nationwide fuel scarcity. So I drove in to fill my wife's car tank and the 25 litre  jerrycan I had with me.  I was 5th on the queue (actually, the queue was surprisingly short; there were just six of us). But there were a few other people buying in jerrycans too. 

I waited patiently till it got to my turn. I filled my car tank and the 25 litre jerrycan at N140 per litre. but just as I was about to pay, the lady attendant demanded additional N100 from me for the fuel in the jerrycan. When I asked why, she offered no explanation. Second offense. 

Of course I refused to pay the N100, but she soon turned nasty, rude and disrespectful. Third offense.

Angered at her impudence, I asked her to take back her fuel as I was not prepared to succumb to her exploitation. Argument, commotion, confusion and  a bit of scene, which was soon resolved by another buyer who took over my 25 litre fuel and paid the extra N100. 

I took my jerrycan, went to a nearby Black marketeer just opposite the filling station, and filled it at N180 per litre. If it were possible, I would have requested them to take back the fuel they had already pumped into my tank. 

I left fulfilled that I did not succumb to the brazen exploitation of this small girl that is just about my daughter's age, though I knew she was merely obeying her boss's instruction 

Now, anyone would think that I was stupid. Paying the additional N100 was not a problem to me. I could afford to pay it a hundred times, but I just couldn't come to terms with why I should be asked to pay additional fee after buying so much quantity of fuel at exorbitant price. That the fuel station was selling above official rate is bad enough; to exploit people further without any explanation is unacceptable to me. 

I have a mind to report this incident to DPR, but I will let it pass for now until I have had a word with the owner. As far as I can tell, there is no law in this country banning buying  of fuel in jerrycans. Even if there was, it is not the place of this  filling station to enforce it. So why should it make its laws to exploit the people? Why should anyone even agree to subject himself to this exploitation? 

The man who eventually took over the fuel and paid the extra N100 may have considered himself wise. And may be others too who have been succumbing to the exploitation, but my point is made. If there were three or four of us who objected to the N100 extra fee, the fuel station would think twice next time. 

But this is how we roll in this country. We are quick to cry that the country is not working, and that government is not doing anything for the people, but the people themselves refuse to make things easy for themselves. How can the country work when we seem to have willingly agreed not to make it work? Why do you complain and blame the government for a decision you made on your own? 

Change is not a one-man responsibility. Change is our collectively responsibility. This country would be great the day we all collectively decide to do the right thing in our little corner.