Ekiti Petrol Crisis Escalates

The petrol scarcity rocking Ekiti State has reached a crisis state as black marketers have hijacked the process and now engage in open hawking of the product.

The illicit business transaction was common in Ado Ekiti capital, Ikere and other towns across the state.

The petrol marketers had downed tools since last week Monday, predicating their actions on the threat by Governor Ayodele Fayose to demolish some filling stations built within residential areas.

This action led to the demolition of some filling stations under the supervision of the governor, which provoked the marketers to declare indefinite strike.

The action was later followed by attack on two petrol stations in Ado Ekiti by unknown hoodlums, where a filling station belonging to IPMAN’s Secretary in Ekiti, Alhaji Suleman Akinbami fell victim.

To add more strength to the industrial action, the national body of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria(IPMAN) and Nigerian Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Union(NUPENG) cut petrol supply to the state.

When the strike started, the black marketers cashed in on the situation and engaged in illicit businesses until the situation deteriorated.

Now, the marketers are having a field day as they openly hawk a litre for as much as N300 , instead of the N145 regulated price.

The drivers were the ones mostly engaging in the illicit business, because of their access to the neighbouring states of Ondo, Osun, Oyo and Kogi, where they purchased the product and brought down to Ekiti to make brisk businesses.

Products were openly displayed in 50 litre kegs in Ojumose, old garage, Akure garage, Basiri and Oke Iyinmi areas of the Ado metropolis, while that of Ikere was being done in the roundabout area and Oke Oja garage.

The commercial drivers and motorcyclists patronized them as they scampered to purchase it even at such exorbitant prices.

A black marketer, who identified himself as Tunde Ayelabowo said he had made a profit of over N300,000 since last week he commenced the illegal business.

“In fact, to me it seems the strike should continue because I am making my money. I have been getting my fuel from Ondo State and I was getting regular supply to sell between N258 and N300 per litre”.