On the eve of Christmas Eve, Nigerians across the country are running around doing their last minute Christmas shopping.
Not a problem, it happens every year. But this year is different for two different reasons. One, Christmas is on Monday and so Christmas Eve and the day before Christmas Eve fall on a weekend. Two: notice those long lines at the fuel stations and the bumper to bumper traffic? Yes, it’s a season of fuel shortages and hoarding (depending on where you are).
And so across the country’s major cities, and particularly in Lagos, commuters and car owners scramble from point to point and line to line searching for fuel. While those not on the move or stuck are at home waiting for those who are.
Prices are up, electricity is down, generators are heating and general tensions high. But in the meantime Nigerians have taken to Twitter to vent their frustrations – pushing #fuelscarcity to the number 1 trending hashtag on the social media site.
Here are some of the more interesting posts we are monitoring. And remember, whatever you do: relax. It’s the holidays after all and things can’t possibly get any worse.
i just don't understand hw pple are still fat in this #fuelscarcity.Only 2 days i went to look 4 fuel i hv lost 20kg pic.twitter.com/cFXvP4gHAP
— Chris 2.0 (@dodoincredible) December 23, 2017
#fuelscarcity the problem of Nigeria is the people, we love to exploit each other. And we find joy in doing it. All because of money.God save Nigeria.
— Afuye saheed Ayinde (@AfuyeA) December 23, 2017
https://twitter.com/RetweetMasta9ja/status/944560450611634176
You still dey go government work for government induced #fuelscarcity? Na public holiday for me Sha https://t.co/1A9tWuMiAw
— Kola (@misterkola12) December 23, 2017
Won't you power the device? One benefit of #fuelscarcity, we will go back to reading books and newspapers
— I Dreamof22ndCentury (@VSSangobimpe) December 23, 2017
Santa, I can't find you #fuelScarcity. pic.twitter.com/TPImXgvbfJ
— Joseph Okoegwale (@jokoegwale) December 23, 2017
#fuelscarcity I have been practically immobile since 72hours ago because of fuel scarcity, which is naturally unlike me, on top of that there is no light!!! This is disheartening.
— Olanike (@Foodqueen3) December 23, 2017
No words #fuelscarcity pic.twitter.com/OipFlZ14O9
— H.E Ökike (@HEOkike) December 23, 2017
100% increment in t.fare ikeja-anthony + gridlock. which way forward Nigeria?. #fuelscarcity #BadGovernance.
— Chiagoro (@Chiagoroahaotu) December 23, 2017
President @MBuhari doesn't give a damn about #FuelScarcity #EndSARS or whatever else those who elected him are crying about. The same man who understood what fuel queues cost in terms of man-hours a few years ago can't even be bothered to explain why this is happening now!
— JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) December 23, 2017