Fuel scarcity hits states, litre sells above N100
An apparent fuel scarcity might have returned in some parts of the country leading to queues in fuel stations, Daily Trust can report.
A litre of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol sells for N100 in Katsina just as long vehicles queues were seen at the few filling stations that dispensed the commodity yesterday.
Many petrol stations were closed just as the few that sold were besieged by large number of customers all trying to buy at exorbitant prices.
In Kano, our reporter observed that most of the filling stations within the metropolis did not sell fuel to customers, while the few that operated witnessed long queues.
Daily Trust observed that motorists resorted to going to outskirts towns like Gezawa, Kura and Wudil among other towns that are not far from the state capital to fill their tanks.
Also, fuel queues returned in some of the filling stations in Zamfara State.
Investigations revealed that the difference in price of the product greatly influenced queues at the petrol stations just as long queues persisted in many filling stations yesterday in some parts of Benue State.
Our correspondent who went round many filling stations in Makurdi, the state capital, observed that only few of them were dispensing the product while others were completely shut.
Most motorists were equally in a fix as to whether to queues for long hours or buy at the black market at the cost of between N150 and N200 per litre.
In Plateau State, motorists complained that the prevailing scarcity is biting hard on them and compelled to queue up for a long time at filling stations.
In Jos, the state capital, motorists say the situation was worse as only few petrol stations have been selling recently.
Also, long queues persisted in Yola, Adamawa State, as petrol price rose amid scarcity.
Checks reveal that motorists spend hours at petrol stations waiting to buy fuel at N110 per liter while most filling stations were closed.
However, the fuel scarcity leading to the appearance of fuel queues in Bauchi metropolis and some other areas has subsided in the last two days.
However, the NNPC said: “We can confirm that an additional daily supply of 306 trucks of PMS which is the equivalent of over 10 million litres of petrol has been injected to provide extra daily supply to Kano, Minna, Suleja/Abuja, Gusau, Katsina as well as Kaduna.”