By James Lokong Augustine- Torit
Fuel scarcity becomes the main challenge affecting the activity of the businessmen in Torit of Eastern Equatoria State.
Some of the motorists commonly known as Boda Boda riders admit they are almost quitting the businesses if fuel scarcity continues.
Joseph Taudesio is a Boda Boda rider in Torit town, says he comes as early as 3am but he found a long queue waiting for fuel.
“the issue of fuel here in Torit is too much because I came this morning as early as 3AM. I already got people lining up for fuel and I cannot access it. They say the fuel is there but the problem is the machine which pumps the fuel which says it has some problem it can only pump to a few individuals then it hangs up. We have only one functional fuel station here in Torit the one next to prison warden.”
Taudesio says that he cannot bring food on the table since he earns his living from the money he gets after carrying travellers.
Clip 2 Fuel Crisis
“challenges of fuel scarcity is affecting me a lot, at home you cannot able to feed the children and you will find a litre of fuel in black market is about 2500ssp or 3000 ssp, even to get this three thousand in a day is a problem, if you want carry a customer with five hundred they will not accept and these are the main challenges we have. According to me since is having a large hand let them think another way on how they can bring fuel so that to help people.”
Another rider, Lino Kamilo Thomas told Radio Emmanuel that previously they bought one litre of fuel at 600 South Sudanese but now it has increased to 850 South Sudanese Pounds.
Kamilo says they are also opting to charge their customers depending on the distance they will cover.
Clip 3 Fuel Crisis
“they increased with 850ssp and previously it was six hundred, I don’t know why they are increasing, maybe because the fuel is scarce. We are also going to increase our price because fuel is not there. Challenge is just the issue of fuel. If it is there we can also reduce but if it is not there then we can increase. Customers are now fearing when you are telling them that charges is 500ssp they will not accept.”
Currently there is only one fuel station that supplies the whole of Torit town.
The speakers made the remarks to Radio Emmanuel in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.