By Our Reporters
THERE is no respite yet for com­muters across the country as the fuel crisis bites harder.
Nigerians are groaning under the weight of the scarcity as a litre of petrol which official price is pegged at N86.50 now goes for between N150 and N300.
The situation, many say, is gradually inching the country to the precipice, even as they chal­lenged the Federal Government to adopt a proactive measure to remedy the situation before it degenerates further.
The management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation ( NNPC) had as­sured that it was releasing more Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petroleum into the market to mitigate the harsh effect of fuel scarcity.
But as at press time, the situa­tion has worsened. From north to south, east to west, efforts to ar­rest the ugly trend appear to have hit a brick wall as the commod­ity becomes more scarce. Most petrol stations across the country have dried up while long queues remain a permanent feature in the few ones that have the product.
In Kaduna, a litre of petrol sells for between N150 and N250. Already, business activities in the state are suffering as many business owners have to lock their shops in search of fuel due to poor electricity supply.
A motorist, Abdulgafar Bolakale, said the hardship was becoming unbearable.
“You can imagine, I have been in this queue for more than four hours now. I have over 200 cars ahead of me. I was here yesterday but couldn’t get fuel. For how long do we continue like this,” he lamented.
In Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, and other cities across the state, the crisis is report­edly worsening. Apart from the scarcity of the product, the few stations still dispensing have inflated prices. Yesterday, most fuel stations along the Ogoja and Afikpo roads were all shut while few others that opened sold for between N180 and N200.
Commuters were seen buying the products amidst complaint with many calling on the Federal Government to intervene in the fuel situation.
In Edo State, commuters are also groaning as petrol has remained scarce with only a few stations selling.
While NNPC Mega Station and few major marketers sell at approved price of N86, most of the stations sell for between N140 and N160 per litre.
The situation has led to few vehicles on the roads with resul­tant jack up in intra and inter-city transport fares.
In Sokoto and its environs, with the exception of the NNPC Mega Station along Gusau Road, none of the major filling stations is selling.
Black marketers, who have taken advantage of the acute shortage, now sell between N250 to N300 per litre while com­mercial buses and taxis have increased fare by more than 100 per cent.
The situation is even worse in Kano where it is sold for between N800 and N850 per gallon at the black market.
There are strong indications of diversion of fuel in the state, but no official was willing to speak.
Last week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) arrested four persons for allegedly diverting 55,000 litres of fuel worth N4,757,500 at the controlled price.
The fate of motorists and petrol seekers in Abuja, the nation’s capital, is not different, as they also spend hours to get the products.
Yesterday, all filling stations dispensing petrol had long queue, while some motorists who can afford it patronize young boys selling in plastic cans at inflated prices.
At the NNPC mega filling station along the Kubwa Express­way, anxious motorists blocked the service lane, while the four men manning the gate had tough time controlling those who jumped the queue.
At one of the major filling stations in Maitama, motorists complained of missing church service as a result of time spent to scout for fuel.
At the Oando filling station in Area 1, majority of motorists waiting for fuel were commercial drivers and they also lamented the quality time wasted at the station.
A motorist, Kabir lamented that he had spent more than two hours on the queue, but was optimistic that he will get fuel for his airport shuttle business
In Umuahia, most independent marketers sell for between N140 and N160 per liter. The situation has also affected other goods as cost of transportation has gone high.
In Asaba, Delta State capital and its environs, apart from the NNPC Mega Station along the Benin-Onitsha expressway which sells at the regulated price, every other station dispense for as high as N150 and N170 per liter.
Meanwhile, the acute shortage has forced most private vehicle owners to abandon their cars.
A civil servant, Joseph Omo­nigho told Daily Sun that he has abandoned his Toyota Camry car since the recent fuel scarcity in Asaba.
In Imo State, a liter of petrol hovers between N135 and N140. Curiously, the major marketers do not have the product. The high cost of the product is said to be driving up prices of other com­modities. A ride in a Keke within the Owerri now cost N300 as against N200.
Some motorists said they have given up on the situation as there is little or nothing they could do to reverse it.
Mr. Uzoma Nnadi, a motorist who spoke to Daily Sun said the situation is hopeless as there is nothing anyone could do. “Ev­erybody seem to have accepted the high prices in the state as long as the product is available,” he said.
Like in other states, the situ­ation in Akwa Ibom is getting worse as a litre sells for between N170 and N200, except at the NNPC mega station. However, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than to buy petrol there within 24 hours.
In Enugu, motorists are report­edly sleeping at the NNPC Mega Station as price in other stations jumps to N145.
The queue at the NNPC Mega station has refused to go away as motorists leave their vehicles overnight while others sleep at the station to be able to get the product. The high cost of the product in the Enugu capital city has drastically reduced the number of vehicles on the roads just as commercial drivers have hiked prices of transportation, Daily Sun learnt.
Apart from the NNPC mega station which has maintained steady supply which is, however, difficult to secure due to long queues, motorists in Abakpa area as well as the Enugu/PortHar­court expressway have expressed gratitude to Master Energy for maintaining steady supply and at the approved rate.
In Onitsha, transporters have doubled fares as they now charge N60 to N70 per drop as against the usual N30 to N50.
Residents of Yenagoa, Bayelsa State capital and its environs are still groaning with many of them agonizing over the high cost of living as a result of the scarcity.
According to investigations, supply has increased significantly between Saturday night and Sunday morning which has made many motorists to shift to the NNPC Mega station. But those that cannot stand the long queue at the NNPC retail outlets, turn to the other retail outlets which now sell at N160 per litre.
If residents of Bayelsa are hopeful of an early letup, their counterparts in Anambra State, particularly in Awka are biting their fingers as business and so­cial activities have considerable slowed down.
The few filling stations that have sell for between N140 and N160 per litre, while the NNPC mega station which is the only one selling at normal pump price of N86 cannot contain the popu­lation at the station.
The situation has made move­ment difficult as many who can not afford the exorbitant price or join the queue before 4 am have parked their vehicles while transport fare has skyrocketed by about 150 per cent.
Speaking to Daily Sun, a woman who gave her name as Nkechi said: “In fact, we don’t know the cause of what is hap­pening because if you go to other filling stations, they are selling N150, N160, N170. It is only here (NNPC) we can get the normal price. I have been in this line since 8 am and you can see that I am still very far from near­ing the gate.
“Let the Buhari govern­ment look at what is happening because we are tired of this fuel issue. It is really bad, let the gov­ernment do something to save the people. This not our expectation of change.”