By Consumers In Hardship As Long Queues Return To Fueling Stations
Fuel scarcity has once again returned to major cities across the country as long queues have started showing up in various fueling stations, BlackBox Nigeria can report.
BBN gathered that the scarcity is returning after over a year it was experienced due to the fall out in operations at many of the depots in Apapa. It was learnt that while most of the depots are not operating, few ones are carrying out a skeletal loading of petroleum products.
In addition, some of the depots have increased the price charged from N133.28 per litre to about N139 and N143. This has raised concerns by motorists and other consumers of petrol about the latest round of fuel scarcity alleging that it might be a ploy to increase the pump price of the commodity.
Since late Monday afternoon, gridlocks have been witnessed on major roads such as Ikorodu Road, Agege Motor Road, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
With the situation escalating, black market operators have commenced business on sides of the roads. Also, some ‘area boys’ have started mounting tolls at entrance of fueling stations as they have started taxing each motorists before being allowed inside the stations.
BBN further gathered that the fall out in the depots operations was not unconnected to the accusation raised by the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Lagos State chapter where it accused the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation of under supplying its members with petrol. The association alleged that NNPC was frustrating its members by reneging on the bulk purchase agreement it signed with them to supply the product at N133.28 per litre.
