Fuel hawkers have appeared in strategic locations in Lagos State due to fuel scarcity, which has resulted in long queues in the metropolis.

The hawkers are capitalising on the situation to make brisk business.

While many fuel stations are under lock and key, hawkers, also known as black market sellers, have taken over and now sell at exorbitant prices.

The Guardian learnt that fuel attendants at many stations opt to sell to the hawkers, who pay between N2,000 and N3,000 for a 50-litre keg.

The hawkers either wait until late hours or go as early as 4:00 a.m. to buy the product.

While the Conoil fuel station at Aguda, Surulere, Lagos, was under lock and key yesterday, black marketers in front of the station sold the product at an increased price.

Also, hawkers had a field day on Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, selling the product between N1,300 and N1,500 per litre close to the Mobil filling station.

Speaking with The Guardian, a tricycle rider in Surulere who did not want his name in print said: “The hawkers sell four litres for N6,500. Some petrol attendants collect N1,000 each from the black marketers. Some come to the filling station with four 50-litre kegs at once, and they are attended to.

“They don’t care about the number of vehicles in the queue. Once they see the black marketers, they are happy and sell to them. That is how they get their money. Nigeria is a corrupt country, and only the person who can pay can get things done.

“People requiring just five litres will queue in filling stations from morning till night and may not get fuel, but someone with a 50-litre keg will enter, buy, leave, and resell to us. They sell and return to buy while we suffer to get fuel. We pay the Agbero (touts) and buy expensive fuel. Passengers should also bear the cost.”

The spokesperson for the Lagos State Taskforce, Abduraheem Gbadeyan, said: “It is illegal to hawk fuel, and we have been arresting those in the act.

We arrested hawkers recently and seized over 2,000 litres of petrol and diesel in the Mile-2 area. Illegal sale of petrol and diesel by the roadside poses a significant risk of fire hazards and explosions.”