Bamboutos fuel crisis: Queue increases as commuters scramble for first spot
By Stephen TADAHA
Fueling stations in Mbouda, the chief town of the Bamboutos in the West Region are still lacking fuel (gasoline) 48 hours after Gaston Eloundou Essomba reassured the return of the precious liquid as of Tuesday, December 12.
If many media organs reported the availability of fuel in Bafoussam, West Region, it is not yet the case in other towns like Mbouda and Babadjou in the Bamboutos where gasoline has become the most needed good. Its scarcity has paralyzed many activities, especially in the economic domain.
Many, on Tuesday, continued to queue for the adulterated fuel popularly known as “zoa zoa”.
Minister Gaston Eloundou Essomba of Water and Energy Resources had in a release on Monday, reassured the public of a return to normalcy on Tuesday. The Minister blamed the scarcity on meteorological issues faced when loading some ships in Lome, Togo but confirmed that a 13 000m3 of gasoline (super) was already being dispatched to the affected areas before the arrival of another ship this week.
The situation has given birth to black markets and has sporadically increased transport fares because bike riders and clandestine drivers who use zoa-zoa have decided so.
This fuel crisis comes within a context when many households, already shouldering price hikes in markets, are busy preparing for end-of-year festivities.
