The scarcity of petroleum products continues to take its toll across the country, including in Katsina State, where prices have gone up to over N220 per litre, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
A survey conducted by NAN indicated that only the NNPC Mega station on IBB Way, Himma, Oando, Mutunchi, AA Rano and Matrix filling stations are selling the product at the official pump price of N145 per litre within Katsina metropolis.
Long queues were recorded in these few filling stations where motorists spend several hours to purchase the commodity.
NAN also observed that, with the exception of NNPC Mega station, only one or two pumps dispense the product in spite of the long queues.
The situation is worse in places like Charanchi, Kankia, Ingawa, Kurfi, Dutsinma, Kankara and Malumfashi, where most filling stations remained closed, with the few that are opened selling at more than N220.
Motorists in those places mostly buy petrol from the black market, where the price per gallon of four litres varies from place to place ranging from N1,200 and above.
Most of the motorists interviewed by NAN decried the situation and called on government to solve the problem.
They noted that an increase in the price of petrol could affect other sectors of the economy.
Malam Yusuf Abdullahi, a motorist, said most of the filling stations hoard the product and sell it at will and at an extortionate prices.
“It is unfortunate that Nigerians still suffer to get petrol at the official rate.
“We want the government to hasten taking stringent measures against marketers either diverting or hoarding the product to serve as deterrent to others,’’ he said.
The Buhari administration had issued a statement on Christmas Eve laying out measures it is taking, with the President tweeting on Christmas Day that “All relevant agencies of Government are working round-the-clock to bring relief to you.”
(Source: NAN)