Strike: Motorists in Calabar resort to panic buying of petrol

Motorists in Calabar metropolis are now resorting to panic buying of petrol following the commencement of indefinite strike by the organised labour.

It would be recalled that the organised labour declared a nationwide indefinite strike effective June 3 as part of agitations for minimum wage increase.

A survey around the city on Monday showed long queues of vehicles at the few petrol stations that opened for business.

It was reported that many petrol stations in the city were shut in compliance with labour unions directive for an indefinite strike while the few outlets that opened sold petrol at between N760 and N800.

Some of the drivers who spoke to NAN said that their intention was to store up petrol to avoid running out of stock during the strike.

One of them, Mr Andreaw Ekpenyong, a civil servant, said that there was so much uncertainty around the rift between labour and the government.

“Nobody knows when it will end, nobody wants to be caught without petrol at a time like this,” he said.

On his part, Mr Jones Adah, a commercial bus driver said that the strike had already made it difficult to access petrol.

“They are hoarding the product, they are creating artificial scarcity because there is strike.

“So I am here to buy some petrol so that I can go about my businesses during the strike,” he said.

It was reported that the strike brought many activities in the city to a halt with public schools, banks, hospital and others outfits completely shut.