Visionary Reports

The population has decried the scarcity of domestic gas, which is already affecting daily lives.

Cracks of post-electoral violence are very visible in the daily lives of the population in Douala, as the city is currently grappling with a severe shortage of domestic gas, a situation that has prompted some dealers to exploit the crisis by significantly hiking prices. Most gas dealers complain that they have not been able to get gas from their suppliers within and out of the region. Mr. Jean Calvin Pieutchuo, a gas dealer in Deido, told VisionaryReports on Thursday, November 6, that all the gas he had in stock was finished. “I usually sell Glocal Gaz, Star Gaz, Tradex Gaz, and more. But as we speak, I don’t have any. Customers have been thronging in, but I have been unable to serve them.” He blamed the scarcity on transportation difficulties, as most trucks have not been able to bring gas to Douala or move within the city to distribute gas.

At the different Tradex stations in Bonamoussadi, Ndokoti, and Parcous Vita, there was no gas. One of the service heads at Tradex regretted that for the past week, they had not received gas, and all they had in stock was finished. Reports indicate that some gas suppliers in Yassa, PK 17, and other parts of Douala who are in possession of domestic gas are exploiting consumers; a price of a gas cylinder, which typically costs around CFA 6,500, has soared to an alarming CFA 10,000.Residents of Douala are feeling the pinch as they struggle to maintain their daily cooking routines amidst the scarcity. Madam Ronnette Sanjou said she has been searching for gas to no avail. “It’s been challenging for me to prepare the kids for school in the morning and cook. I tried buying charcoal, which is also very expensive. That is what I have been using, but it’s time-consuming.”The population is calling on the government to intervene to ensure that gas supplies are stabilized and prices regulated to protect consumers from exploitation. As Douala residents continue to face the brunt of this gas scarcity, the hope is that swift action will be taken to restore fair pricing and ensure the availability of domestic gas for all. In the meantime, many are left to navigate this challenging situation, caught between rising costs and dwindling supplies.

By Gina Esong