Yesterday we discussed corruption on the highway as it affects trailers conveying goods from Lagos to the north. Today we are discussing trailers movements from Portharcourt to the north. I thank you all for your contributions. The source of the information is mostly through interviews with drivers, agents and truck owners. Security agents refused to cooperate because they are involved in what is a criminal offence. Only police and army are involved. DSS,FRSC,NDLEA are on the highway for specific operation that affects their jobs.
A trailer that bought con-diesel ( diesel from illegal refinery) from Portharcourt has to pay army on the road N2000 per checkpoint up to Okene. After Okene up to the other parts of the North there are no extortionist gangs
There are about 30 checkpoints to Okene. A trailer that bought its diesel from filling station with receipts will give 200 per checkpoint. The type of cargo doesn’t matter.
The army usually check the fuel tanks of each trailer to confirm the type of diesel it is using. Con-diesel is usually cheaper because it is from illegal refineries using stolen crude oil.
Problem with con-diesel is that it has too much sulphur and can sometimes damages injector pumps. But nonetheless the truck drivers buy it because of the huge difference in price. It costs about N500,000 to buy refined imported fuel to Abuja but costs N300,000 for con-diesel.
Apart from army there are police in the same checkpoints and are collecting N1000 for con-diesel and 200 for imported diesel. The bribe differs based on the type of diesel the trailers are using. If it is from stolen crude the bribe is higher as mentioned above.
No truck gets to its destination without paying the bribes and the money is passed down to poor NIGERIAN consumers. Any truck that refused to pay will be delayed for days at a checkpoint. This is quite unusual but sometimes drivers run out of money due to unforeseen breakdowns.
If you are looking for reasons why goods are expensive,this is one of the reasons. Of course there are other economic factors,but corruption on the highway is a major contributor. Nigeria is an impossible country. We are our own great enemies.
But we blame America and the West for our self inflicted problems.
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