Fuel scarcity which spread to Lagos, the nation’s commercial capital, over the weekend is now biting harder with motorists spending their night at filling stations.
Reports by our correspondent within Ikeja and its environs indicated that most petrol stations are now shut down, claiming they have run out of stock while only a few were dispensing.
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In all the few filling stations, our correspondent observed long queues of between 500 meters to almost one kilometer as motorists scrambled to get fuel.
Those affected included both the commercial and private vehicle owners who lamented spending long hours in the queues.
At a Mobil Station along the Obafemi Awolowo Road near the popular Allen Roundabout Ikeja, our correspondent reports that the queue had extended beyond Allen and stretching to Aromire Road.
Also at the filling station, many black marketers were observed with their five and 10-litre gallons full of petrol inviting motorists who have run out of fuel to patronise them.
When accosted, one of them said a 5-litre costs N2,500 to N3000 depending on the bargaining power of the motorists.
A motorist, Alhaji Atanda, who spoke with our correspondent said he had been at the filling station since 6:00 a.m but the station was just about dispensing fuel when our reporter visited around 9am.
“We don’t even understand the situation. I got here very early, I have been in the queue since but it is unfortunate we are in this situation again. But I’m told they are about selling it,” he said.
Also an NNPC retail station along Isheri-Ogunnusi Road near Omole, is also dispensing with a long queue of motorists.
The situation is similar at a private station adjacent Grammar School Police Station Ojodu where a litre is sold for N175.
The situation has deepened the early morning gridlock emanating from Aina Street outbound Ogunnusi Road.
Also a long queue of motorists was observed at Rainoil Filling Station along Acme Road near the APC State Secretariat despite that the station was not dispensing when our correspondent visited.
It was however learnt that the station would soon begin to sell to motorists.
IPMAN: We can’t sell less than N180 per litre
Daily Trust reports that the scarcity has been worsened in the last 24 hours as Independent Marketers under the aegis of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said it is no longer sustainable to sell the product at the official price of N165-N166 per litre.
IPMAN held a press conference on Monday where it explained its predicament with the current price of PMS at private depot.
“We explained that with the current price, there is no way we can sell less than N180 per litre. On this note, members are hereby advised to sell at a sustainable price within their environment. Just make sure that the price is on your pump. Kindly contact the Secretariat should you have any authority challenging your operations,” said Secretary of IPMAN in Lagos, Akeem Balogun.
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