By John Ugo
It was a hellish experiebce for motorists in Benin, the Edo State capital and adjoining towns as protester on Thursday blocked the Lagos Benin Expressway at Oluku Junction against the arbitrary hike in the pump price of fuel and the attendant scarcity of the product.
Most Commuters who were on their way to Lagos and other states in the West and northern parts of the country were left stranded for hours during the protest.
Both travellers and motorists lamented the ugly scenes following the road blockade by the protesters.
An angry business man, John Okafor who was heading to the commercial town of Onitsha in Anambra’ state from Lagos State described the situation as “annoying and embarrassing for a country like Nigeria to find herself in such a woeful situation with it’s citizens being subjected to excruciating pains as a result of the increase in per litre of petrol.”
Also, another trader who gave her name as Mrs. Grace said, “It is unfortunate that this protest 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 bad 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.”
One of the stranded drivers, who identified himself as Osahon appealed to the federal government to take urgent steps towards resolving all the issues causing fuel crisis in the country.
