Bajaj drivers in the Afar region say they have been unable to buy gasoline from official stations for nearly a year, forcing them to rely on the black market, where prices have surged to 300 birr per liter.
A Bajaj driver in Amibara district of the Afar region , who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Addis Standard that official fuel stations have not been an option for them. “We don’t even know what it’s like to get gas from a station. It came only once in a year,” the driver said. “When we go, they say, ‘There’s no gasoline.'” Because of this, he explained, they are now purchasing fuel on the black market at exorbitant prices.
“The retail comes from trucks,” he said. “The trucks get it in barrels and sell it in smaller amounts. They sell us one liter for 300 birr in Highland.”
The driver added that while private vehicles are allowed to refuel at stations, Bajaj and motorcycle drivers are not permitted to do so. “Paying 900 birr for three liters is not profitable,” he explained. “We’re working rather than stopping completely, but even when we ask passengers to pay more, they refuse. We’re in a very difficult situation.”
He also mentioned that many Bajaj drivers stopped working a month ago due to the fuel shortage. Following this, district and regional officials visited the area and promised improvements, but “nothing has changed so far.”
Ali Siraj, another Bajaj driver from Awash Arba, said obtaining gasoline from official stations has become impossible, forcing them to rely on the black market. “Now, we’re buying gasoline at 250 birr per liter,” he said. “Because of this, we can’t make short trips anymore unless they’re contract-based.”
He explained that the shortage has significantly impacted their ability to work. “Previously, since you could get as much gasoline as you wanted from stations, you could work both small and large routes without losing money,” he said. “Now, unless it’s a contract job with good payment, you can’t work.”
He also noted that fares have increased sharply. “A trip that used to cost 30 birr now costs 100 birr,” he said. “Routes that were 50 birr now go for 200 birr.” Ali, a father of five, expressed frustration over the continued fuel shortage and the impact it has had on his ability to support his family.
In response to growing complaints, the government recently attributed the ongoing fuel shortages to artificial price inflation, stating that “there are no supply problems in the country.”
? Nah I don’t do pagans gall. I shoot them though.
