Bafoussam: cooking gas scarcity getting alarming

Denizens in the city of Bafoussam say the scarcity of cooking gas is getting alarming as days pass by. In the streets of Bafoussam, it is common to see people moving around with empty cylinders moving from pillar to post in search of gas.

According to them, the scarcity has been experience for almost a month:

“The situation is severe. I have suffered with this gas cylinder.”
“We can’t fry and eat eggs again like before, even tea we can’t drink.”

Even retailers complain they are out of stock and have not been given any clear explanation by wholesellers of the commodity:

“My shop is totally empty. I have called them many times but they said nothing concrete. Right now the suppliers have stopped answering my calls,” a retailer said.

Distributors in Bafoussam say their job is at risk and they might become jobless if the situation persists:

“My boss is already thinking about whether or not to quit the gas business as a result of the scarcity since he hasn’t received any supplies for over a month now. Closing this shop means it’s finished for us. How are we going to raise money to eat and buy basic needs?”

While waiting desperately for the return of the cooking gas on the markets, households which cannot afford the limited stock – which some people now sell at the cost of F CFA10,000 – many have switched to other alternatives like a regular kerosene stove, coal and wood.