By Achadu Gabriel, Kaduna
Scores of operators of commercial tricycles, popularly known as Keke Napep, on Friday evening blocked a lane of the busy Kachia Road in Kaduna, to protest the sudden scarcity of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the principal fuel for their vehicles.
The incident occurred close to Green Bill, the only CNG retail outlet located along Kachia Road, near Refinery Junction.
The blockage, which took place during peak traffic period, immediately sparked massive gridlock and inflicted heavy doses of inconvenience on commuters, most of whom were left stranded for hours.
Apparently overwhelmed road traffic officials were seen working hard and diverting vehicles to drive against traffic on the opposite lane, in a bid to try and ease the consequent tense situation.
At the U-turn point near General Hospital, the traffic personnel directed road users to join the one-way flow of vehicles heading to Sabon Tasha from Refinery Junction.
Our correspondent who visited the scene witnessed that the lane that was completely blocked by tricycles also had parked buses whose operators were caught up, like the tricycle operators, in the seemingly endless wait and expectation of gas delivery and retail, since the break of dawn yesterday.
Eyewitnesses said the scarcity was triggered by the withdrawal of services by CNG tanker drivers, who are pressing for higher pay.
Sources said the tanker drivers are currently paid about N100,000 monthly, which they say is grossly inadequate to cater for self and families against the backdrop of the current cost of living crisis in the country, and so are demanding better wages.
But some tricycle operators told People&Politics that the tanker drivers’ earlier grumbling was exacerbated following attempts by security, road traffic personnel and others to stop them from carrying extra passengers or luggage in the course of their fuel delivery journeys, adding that if they were allowed to do so and raise extra income from the action, they would not have demanded for salary increment.
The latest CNG scarcity is coming barely a few months after a similar disruption in the state, thus raising concerns among transport operators who depend largely on CNG to run their vehicles to cater for families.
Many operators spoken to, lamented that the scarcity had crippled their operations as they could not work, earn income or meet family obligations.
Efforts to get officials of the CNG station and relevant authorities to speak on the development were unsuccessful.
*PHOTO CAPTION: Some of the tricycles blocking the lane.
