How e-Commerce companies react

In the wake of persistent scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or fuel and Automotive Gas Oil, popularly known as diesel, that nearly paralyzed the Nigeria’s economy, reports suggest that e-commerce platforms in Nigeria have developed channels to enable Nigerians overcome the situation.

One of these platforms, Fuelvoucher service, offers an easy and fun way to buy fuel for personal use or as gifts to loved ones.

The online platform, Fuelvoucher.com.ng, works flawlessly and gives an easy and effective way of monitoring and tracking usage.

Meanwhile Jumia’s PR Associate, Yemi Kuti, Jumia, stated that the platform has stocked diesel so as to be able to continue to offer full services to its customers and launched a #SavePower store for "energy efficient products".

Kuti said Jumia “…actually witnessed increase in traffic, as regards the number of people making online purchases”.

Jumia took it one step further, offering free delivery services to regions where delivery charges were applicable before the scarcity.

"To further flaunt Jumia’s ever preparedness to fulfill the demands of its customers, starting today, Jumia will be embarking on a free delivery to all their cash on deliveryregions in Nigeria!" the company's blog entry read.

He added that online customers were mainly purchasing rechargeable lantern, rechargeable fans, and other home appliances to cushion the effects of the fuel scarcity.

Investigations further reveal that on the Kaymu.com platform, the story was slightly different.

Tomiwa Oladele, Head of PR, Kaymu Nigeria, an online marketplace, stated that customers were actually inquiring about the availability of fuel via the platform.

“For an online shopping community like Kaymu where buyers and sellers meet to conduct business transactions, the fuel scarcity impacted on us and our customers in a different way,” Oladele said.

“We noticed increased inquiries from members in our social media community as to whether we had fuel for sale”.

She said that the inquiries led to a survey carried out by Kaymu on whether Nigerians will buy fuel online if it wasn't against the law.

“We found 73% of respondents stating their readiness to purchase fuel online. This goes to show Nigerian's frustration at the scarcity of fuel and their increased reception to online shopping and the lease of life it provides,” she said.