Nigerialog.com - Nigeria's Premier Online Forum - Petrol scarcity persists, may mar Xmas

DESPITE claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation NNPC, that it has increased supply of premium motor spirit, PMS, also known as petrol, to Lagos and Abuja to 470 truckloads, scarcity of the product has persisted, fueling fears it might mar Christmas, which is four days away.

In Lagos, long queues were seen in some filling stations at Amukoko, Ajegunle, Kirikiri, which led to the traffic jams experienced on those areas. At Amukoko, Total filling station was dispensing product to motorists, while other stations were shut. A motorist who gave his name as Babagana Ibrahim, told Vanguard he bought a litre of petrol at N250. Consequently, fares have gone up by about 100 per cent. Ojodu-Berger to Ikeja, which used to be N100 now attracts a fare of N200, while Ojota to Ojuelegba has gone up to N400 from N200. The Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Lagos Region yesterday sealed Oando filling station, Lekki, belonging to Mr Basiru Fakorede over molestation of DPR personnel. Mr Usman Ndanusa, the Deputy Director and Head of Downstream Division of DPR who led the team, said the operator of the station molested DPR monitoring team on December 7 in the wake of the fuel scarcity.

“When the monitoring team of DPR visited the station, they were not selling the product to motorists. “They challenged the station manager and attendants on the reason they were not selling the product when they had 32,000 litres underground tanks. At this juncture, the staff started molesting the DPR staff. “We cannot stand for that because if we allow it to go unchecked, our staff will not be free to perform their duty. “If DPR staff are being molested by all filling stations in this country, then we won’t be doing any inspection. Hoewever, the Station operator said he did not deny DPR access to the place. “I expected DPR to invite me to their office after the incident. I am surprised to see them here today to seal my station,” he said. ‘’The dealer will be invited to our office to defend his action, if he is able to justify his actions, we will unseal his station.

“But if not, the department may revoke his licence.’’ In Abuja, motorists had difficulties getting the product from filling stations. Across major roads in the Federal Capital Territory, black marketers were seen making brisk business, selling a litre of the commodity at between N250 and N300. The marketers were even seen on the roads opposite the offices of the NNPC and the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. In Warri, Delta State, most of the filling stations visited were shut. At Matrix on the popular PTI road there was a long queue.

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