It was a bleak Christmas for people living in some parts of Benin City, Edo State, as many people spend Christmas day in gas plants.
Liquified Petroleum Gas(LPG) is commonly used for cooking in Nigeria today, against the traditional firewood, kerosene, and others. However, the cost and availability of this all-important commodity are driving people crazy.
The commodity sold for 300.00 per Kg in January this year, now goes for 700.00 to 800.00 per Kg in December. So, in an attempt to get their cylinder filled many people spend Christmas day at the station.
At PUTMONK Gas Plant, Upper Sakponba Road, Benin City, a long queue that started on 24th December was observed on Christmas day,25. As those who could not be attended to continue the chase for this all-important product as early as 600am on 25 December.
An
elderly woman who gave her name as Mama Destiny, who could not get the product on 24th December, abandoned her cylinder in the gas satation. She was seen screaming at a male attendant the next day.She said she spent over 3 hours on Friday, but could not get the product, she came Saturday excepting to be attended to, but to no avail.
“I was here on Friday waited for more than 3 hours, but could not get the product. I kept my cylinder here but now look at the time, I have not gotten the product, is it not better for us to go back to firewood?” She queried
Another respondent, who gave his name as Sunny said he came to the gas station on Saturday morning, hoping to buy the product as quick as possible,but complained that at about 12.00pm, there was no hope that he could buy and go home.
