THE MASQUERADE FESTIVAL IS OVER (1)

This is the Oando Filling Station at the U-turn bus stop along the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressroad, around 9.30pm on Wednesday night.

The station is well known and well regarded in the neighbourhood. It is acknowledged to always dispense the correct amount of fuel you pay for.

But the management of the station has two rules that I have observed in the last fifteen years;
First, the station do not operate beyond 7.00pm, and second, never open on Sundays.

For most part, these rules are religiously observed, except during fuel scarcity.

Imagine my surprise on Sunday when I drove by and saw the station fully operational.

I assumed it was a one off thing, until I enquired and realised that they now close late and operate on Sundays.

No, it is not under a new management, just under a new business reality.

You see, due to the biting economic recession and the increase in pump price, most stations in Lagos now sell what they were then selling for an average day, in a week!

Consumers have learnt to prioritise their needs, and the major causality being jolly ride about town, or all night generator binge.

Those riding those monstrous trucks and heavy guzzling SUVs have realised the wisdom in fuel efficient cars, and those who can't sleep without the generator being on all night have come to realise that a quick shower before bed is all the incentive you need to doze off.

So, filling stations, once the surest business for guaranteed high volume turnover profit, is witnessing a glut.
This reality means longer hours, no off days, and some are even adding windscreen wipe to the deal, and with such humility and charm that you wonder wether these were the same superstar petrol attendants of a few months ago.

It may be be temporary, and as things improve we may go back to our old ways, but for now, there are fewer cars on the road, fewer noisy all night generators, and more people taking the bus and/or enjoying natural breeze at night.

This is just one aspect of a belt tightening reality that we now find ourselves, to which we must adjust to reluctantly, but adjust we must.

The Masquerade festival is over, the child of the Laagba must now pay for akara balls to eat pap with.

My Ten Kobo.