Ado-Ekiti – Some artisans in Ekiti State on Wednesday urged President Mohammadu Buhari to find lasting solution to the lingering petrol scarcity in the country.
Some of the artisans, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ado-Ekiti, said that non-availability of petrol was having negative effects on their businesses as they were now recording low patronage.
An automobile mechanic, Mr Sunday Awe, lamented over the hardship he was expriencing as result of low patronage.
Awe said some of his customers, who would have patronised him, had parked their vehicles and resorted to trekking or riding on commercial motorcycles.
“I hardly touch my spanners nowadays because my customers do not drive their cars anymore as a result of scarcity of petrol.
“It is not easy, petrol has turn to gold in the country,’’ Awe said.
Mr Ajayi Oluwole, a barber and Kola Ige, an auto electrician, respectively, expressed worries over the hike in price of petrol by the few filling stations that had the product.
Oluwole said: “we usually cut hair per head between N250 and N300 when we get petrol at normal price.
“Now, that it is between N240 and N280 per litre. How do we bill our customers now because there is no money anywhere?.’’
A 62 year-old generator repairer, popularly called `baba gen.’, said he could no longer take good care of his family as people no longer brought their generators for repairs.
“I am appealing to the Federal Government and NNPC to make petrol available for use.’’
Investigations by NAN revealed that many filling stations in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, have not opened for business in weeks. (NAN)