We were all part of a motley crowd of chaotic customers at a petrol station in Ikoyi, Lagos. The last month of 2012 had brought with it the usual perennial fuel scarcity that had become the norm in recent years. Throughout the festive season, Nigerians had lived under the shadow of yet another fuel subsidy removal.
Long queues at petrol stations in Lagos spilled into the roads. Plastic cans filled with fuel and hawked openly in the black market had become the new Christmas hamper.
As the rumour of an impending scarcity began to spread like the season’s harmattan haze, the few petrol stations in town had begun to hoard their supply in anticipation of a rumoured hike. Trust Nigerians, they had besieged the few petrol stations where fuel was available. Tempers ran high as long queues of cars and plastic cans of various shapes and sizes competed for space at a few petrol stations that were magnanimous enough to dispense fuel. It was always a battle of wits and influence peddling at most gas stations. The timing was right to act the big man. But this is normal. After all, Nigeria is a country of thebig man.
.JPG)
