Motorists Groan, Fuel Stations Shut as Power Outages Wreck Businesses in Lokoja

By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman

Fuel stations in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State, have closed to customers due to ongoing power outages, causing long queues at the few stations still dispensing fuel.

Motorists have reported difficulty obtaining fuel due to scarcity and high costs of diesel needed to power generators.

Some fuel stations have also been accused of hoarding fuel and selling it to black marketers at night to increase profits.

The power outages have also led to an increase in transportation costs, with fares rising by 80 to 100%.

Ahmad Usman, a motorist in Lokoja, said he had to leave his car at a fuel station on Friday because the pump attendants were unable to dispense fuel due to a lack of diesel.

The power outages in the area have made it difficult for motorists to use generators, as the high cost of diesel has made it too expensive to operate them without electricity.

A petrol attendant at Total Filling Station in Lokoja, who asked to be referred to as Jimoh, also mentioned the twin challenges of fuel scarcity and high diesel costs as hindrances to their operations.