The fuel scarcity currently bedevilling Zamfara State has brought untold economic hardship as the scarcity of the product has seriously affected food and other essential commodities in the state.
The ugly situation has thrown the residents into unnecessary trekking kilometres away from their homes due to a lack of financial power.
Intensive investigation carried out by Arogidigba Global Journal revealed that commercial motorcycle riders, Kekenapep riders and commercial vehicle drivers have increased their fares by one hundred percent.
It was also gathered that a quarter gallon of fuel is being sold at N2,100 Naira at some filling stations operating in Gusau, the state capital, the prices of food items have also gone up due to the hike in petroleum products, leaving traders and consumers in agony.
In Gusau, a plate of local rice originally sold at N1550 has increased to N3,900 following the increase in fuel prices.
At the Tudunwada market, meat buyers could not purchase meat of even N400 Naira as the meat sellers blamed the high cost of meat on the hike in transportation fares.
“The meat we used to buy at the cost of N30, 000 is now being sold to us at the cost of N65,000 due to high cost of fuel “, a meat seller, Amodu Mustapha said.
When Arogidigba Global Journal visited Gusau Central market, the traders were lamenting that they were losing a lot as there was low patronage due to the financial hardships of the buyers.