2007年VOA标准英语-Nigerians Hope for More Gasoline with New Gover

By Nico Colombant
Port Harcourt, Nigeria
29 May 2007
 

Many Nigerians hope their new president, Umaru Yar'Adua, will urgently address the issue of gasoline scarcity¹ after he is sworn in today.  Even though Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer, massive exports and poor refineries² mean Nigerians often face long lines when trying to get gasoline for themselves. VOA's Nico Colombant reports from the main southern oil-producing city, Port Harcourt.

It is the rainy season, right now here in the oil-rich but gasoline-poor Niger Delta³. The mud is not making long lines at gas stations any easier.

In Nigeria people wait in long lines for gasoline

Motorists and motorcyclists wake up early and battle traffic to try to get their hands on gasoline at this station. It offers some of the cheapest prices in town.

But the wait can be costly⁴, according to a taxi driver who blames the government. "Many of us now are supposed to be making the money and we are using that time here on this line. They are supposed to look after this for us."

People are also late getting to work.

Nigeria is Africa's biggest producer of oil, yet because most of the crude is exported and the country's refineries are in a very bad shape, this situation is not unusual. 

The unfortunate irony⁵ is not lost on Maurice Piebe. "Why are we suffering in abundance of natural resources?” he asks.  “This is a serious case and pathetic really."

Some of the motorists are used to long lines, but they say it has not been this bad in a long time.  One man who says his full name is Obi believes it is a bad sign as a new government is about to take office. "We produce oil here.  We have refineries and they do not work.  I do not think it is a good omen⁶.  It is quite unfortunate," he says.

When the wait is too long, some, like Ima King, just give up. "I will use legs and go to where I parked my car. I cannot drive any further. The car is empty."

Others try to get some illegal gasoline sold on the side of the road. Quality must be tested by dipping a finger into what is for sale. It is not always good gasoline.

Illegal gasoline is sold roadside to motorists

A seller prefers to remain unnamed since he is doing something illegal. He explains the price is double or even triple the cost in the local naira currency than at normal stations. One dollar is about 125 naira. "I would like to sell at 1500 [naira] per liter.  Twenty liters for 2500 [naira].  It is a black market."

To make matters worse right now, refinery⁷ workers are protesting the recent privatization of several of Nigeria's refineries. They say they were not properly consulted and that the process was not transparent⁸.

Government officials say privatization is needed to make the refineries more efficient, and to attract more private investment into producing gasoline for the local Nigerian market.

But unions are threatening a long shutdown of the refineries if negotiations⁹ do not make progress, and the privatization scheme is not reviewed.

Union leader Adamu Abubakar Umaru, says he understands this could make lines even longer, but that ordinary Nigerians, must understand it is for everyone's good. "We are doing it for the interest of the common man. And for the common man, it is painful. They will suffer for our actions."

In the meantime, many gas stations simply run out of gas, making a dire¹⁰ situation even worse, and bringing lots of internal economic activity to a standstill.

1 scarcity   

n.缺乏，不足，萧条

参考例句：

• The scarcity of skilled workers is worrying the government.熟练工人的缺乏困扰着政府。
• The scarcity of fruit was caused by the drought.水果供不应求是由于干旱造成的。

2 refineries   

精炼厂( refinery的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The efforts on closedown and suspension of small sugar refineries, small saccharin refineries and small paper mills are also being carried out in steps. 关停小糖厂、小糖精厂、小造纸厂的工作也已逐步展开。
• Hence the sitting of refineries is at a distance from population centres. 所以，炼油厂的厂址总在远离人口集中的地方。

3 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

4 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

5 irony   

n.反语，冷嘲；具有讽刺意味的事，嘲弄

参考例句：

• She said to him with slight irony.她略带嘲讽地对他说。
• In her voice we could sense a certain tinge of irony.从她的声音里我们可以感到某种讥讽的意味。

6 omen   

n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示

参考例句：

• The superstitious regard it as a bad omen.迷信的人认为那是一种恶兆。
• Could this at last be a good omen for peace?这是否终于可以视作和平的吉兆了？

7 refinery   

n.精炼厂，提炼厂

参考例句：

• They built a sugar refinery.他们建起了一座榨糖厂。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

8 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。

9 negotiations   

协商( negotiation的名词复数 )； 谈判； 完成（难事）； 通过

参考例句：

• negotiations for a durable peace 为持久和平而进行的谈判
• Negotiations have failed to establish any middle ground. 谈判未能达成任何妥协。

10 dire   

adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的

参考例句：

• There were dire warnings about the dangers of watching too much TV.曾经有人就看电视太多的危害性提出严重警告。
• We were indeed in dire straits.But we pulled through.那时我们的困难真是大极了，但是我们渡过了困难。