... States that women bear the brunt

Her Royal Highness, Princess Omobola Bolu Omoleme has called on the federal government to as a matter of urgency look into the prevalent scarcity of fuel in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, and some other parts of the country, says women takes the brunt.


The Business mogul, philanthropist, and prolific writer, Omobola Bolu Omoleme made the call today in Abuja in a statement disclosed to journalists by her media aid, Emmanuel Daudu.



According to Princess Omobola, "we understand that the persistent scarcity of fuel in Nigeria especially in Abuja and other parts of the country is uncalled for by all measures. Nigerian women suffer it more.

"The scarcity of fuel has led to a hike in the cost of living and cost of doing business as transport fare has increased by over 100 percent. Food prices have similarly shot up due to the rising cost of transportation. A lot of productive man-hours are lost to queuing for petrol at the fueling stations. In the course of this scarcity, many vehicle engines have been damaged by adulterated fuel imported as well as those purchased from unwholesome black marketers whose sole aim is super-profit.



"All manner of malpractices and sharp practices have been taking place at many of the fueling stations as bribery and corruption becomes the order of the day. Many of the retail outlets hoard their products and sell to those willing to pay above the official pump price under the cover of darkness. Hoarding of inflammable petroleum products such as petrol at home and other unsafe places has led to infernos of great magnitude thereby making victims incur great economic losses.


"Backing my statement with facts, Nigeria’s consumer price inflation rose in February after recording a fall in January as the nation faces fuel shortages that have helped push prices higher. The rate of price increase between February 2021 and February 2022 was 15.70 percent, higher than the 15.60 percent recorded in January, as announced by the National Bureau of Statistics.

"The statistics office said the prices of goods and services, measured by the Consumer Price Index, fell 1.63 percent points lower than the rate recorded in February 2021 (17.33 percent).
According to the NBS, the rise in the food index was caused by increases in the prices of bread and cereals, food products, potatoes, yam, other tubers, oils and fats, and fruit.

"Nigeria has faced fuel shortages since February after importing substandard fuel, resulting in weeks of severe scarcity and long queues at filling stations. The shortage has seen transport costs rise, thereby affecting goods and commodities".

Princess Omobola who thanked the Buhari government for its perseverance in ensuring a better Nigeria however charged the President with putting more effort and going extra mile in achieving overwhelming results for the betterment of all and sundry.
" We are not saying that the Buhari-led administration is not trying. They are doing the best they can, but the best is not enough.

"Women out there are angry because we are at the receiving end of everything in the society. The government should please do something fast.

" We Nigerians especially the women love this nation. It is our own, but our leaders must learn how to do the right thing at the right time for the purposes of good governance and make the common man feel the dividends of democracy even if he or she can't see it", Princess Omobola added.