By Anye Valentine, in Bamenda
Some commercial drivers and bikers in Cameroon have expressed dissatisfaction at the treatment given them in petroleum sale points in the country.
The scarcity of fuel prices has not only led to an increase in prices but has bred black markets as fuel distributors now operate on basis of nepotism or bribery.
The city most affected by fuel shortage is the country’s heartland, Yaoundé.
Major streets of the political capital city are increasingly becoming empty because cars and bikes lack fuel to ply the roads.
The few people who can make it to the road have now resorted to swell their transportation fare; pushing the burden on passengers.
Some commercial bike and car owners have revealed that the situation has given fuel attendants and distributors room for bribery and corruption.
“To be served, you have to know the pump attendant, or you give him even 1000Frs to serve you fuel, after which you will pay for the actual cost,” a motorbike rider bitterly shared his experience at Tradex Mimbomanb in Yaounde.
“Since yesterday it’s like this, the pump attendants have remained upstairs. We are forced to get fuel by doing as they wish. The pump attendants have become kings,” another bike rider added.
A few bike and car users who are fortunate to be served; whether on basis of bribe or relationship, buy fuel and take reserves in containers; forgetting that their lives and passengers’ are at stake.
The Government of Cameroon is however taking some measures to resolve the fuel crisis.
Earlier on July 11, the government announced that they have ordered 62,500 cubic meters of petroleum which had already arrived the country. They added that 123,000 cubic meters of Super and Gasoil were also on their way to the economic capital city, Douala, to supply the Cameroonian market in the coming days.
The Government raises worries about losing revenue because of this crisis as they have spent the sum of 80 billion Frs in June and 317 billion Frs in the first quarters of 2022.