Fuel scarcity: Long queues disappear in Lagos, Abuja metropolis

 

UGO AMADI

 

After about four months of petrol scarcity in the country, which triggered long queues at filling stations, and the arbitrary increase in prices in many parts of the country, normalcy seems to be returning as commuters go about their daily business without the usual gridlock and long hours of waiting to buy fuel.

Daily Champion monitoring of the situation in Lagos and Abuja shows low queues in many stations and they are selling at the regulated price of N185 while some  other  independent marketers who claim they still have old stock are still selling at various prices ranging from  N200, N220, and N 280

Recall that a few weeks ago, the scarcity of petrol was on the high side, this affected the cost of transportation. Black marketers sold the products for an exorbitant price; a litter was sold at various places at different rates ranging from N185-N600

Simone Ademola a driver lamented the situation, saying: “Fuel scarcity is now every month. Sadly, a nation like Nigeria will always suffer from scarcity of fuel. I blame the marketers for this scarcity. I believe they are hoarding it and selling it at a higher price to black marketers or top politicians. I thank God things are now better.”

A welder, Ejiro Efe, doubts if the change will be sustained. He said: “I will just fill my tank and generator because I know the scarcity will return. How does it get to the black market? Who is giving them petroleum products to sell? They are always on the streets unperturbed and the government is doing nothing to tackle the situation.

Another resident Helen Kudu called on the government to stop punishing the people.

“The government is not doing enough to curb fuel scarcity. Elections are near.” Justin Tochi, a civil servant, while the commending government also called on road transporters to return transportation fares to normal.

This is coming just as Mr. Timpre Sylva,  Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, says Federal Government has taken bold actions to stop the ongoing petrol crises across the country while assuring massive distribution of the product.

Sylva gave the assurance after his tour of some selected petroleum dispensing outlets in Lagos on Friday

He said that he came on the directive of President Muhammdu Buhari, to assess the situation of things about distribution and adherence to price regulation.

The minister said that an inter-ministerial intervention, initiated by the government, has set out to ensure proper management of petrol distribution across the country.

 

He reassured me that with the current steps, all hiccups leading to the current situation was been addressed.

According to him, the situation is pleasant because he observed the availability of products in the state.

“Fuel is everywhere, both in Lagos and Abuja.

“I visited many stations in Ikeja and on the mainland. From every indication, there are products everywhere and I want to assure you that the queues will disappear in a matter of days”, he said.

The minister said the situation, witnessed in Lagos, had been achieved in 15 states across the country, adding that the President had ordered that queues must be cleared, immediately.

On arbitrary price hikes by some marketers, he said that he had directed the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority ( NMDPRA) to upscale its regulatory activities and ensure marketers abide by the current price regime.

 

He said that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., (NNPCL), retail outlets were selling at N184 per liter and over 900 outlets operated by the company were selling at the same price.

 

“And that is the official price everybody is expected to sell, but l admitted there are sharp practices still ongoing.

 

Explaining how the situation degenerated into a crisis point, Sylva said that government did not see it coming.

 

According to him,  sabotage plays a key role in the sector as those who do not mean well for the country take advantage of the upcoming elections, to create panic by engaging in market disruptions.

 

The minister pointed out that other factors like insecurity, foreign exchange scarcity and lack of currency availability further compounded the situation.

 

He, however, said that the inter-ministerial body, inaugurated by the President, is not working in synergy to put in check all seeming challenges and block all potholes.

 

It will be recalled that NNPCL, on Thursday, allocated 150 million litres of petrol to Ijegun-Egba Satellite depots to ease scarcity

 

 

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