Nigerians Are Angry That The Commodity Is With Back Marketers, While Filling Stations Claim They Do Not Have Supplies
Inspite of the assurance given to Nigerians that there is enough supply of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, widely known as fuel,the commodity has remained scarce in parts of Lagos Metropolis, including Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area and Apapa Iganmu Council.
Most filling stations in the areas mentioned have not been dispensing fuel since today, as they claimed they had no supplies.
The few filling stations that had the commodity and rendering services to customers had long queues of motorists and persons desperate to buy fuel.
However, despite the long queues, the cost of the commodity did not change much at filling stations, as they were selling for between #170 and #200 per litre, unlike the black marketers that were selling a litre of fuel for #500 per litre as witnessed at Alahun Osunba and its environs in MazaMaza.
A resident, Israel Isiaka who noted that people in the area were going to as far as Oshodi to buy fuel, explained that following the scarcity of petrol, a lot of commercial motocylists had to stop work.
As a result of the scarcity and high cost of fuel, the cost of charging phones has increased by 100 percent; so also transportation.
As at noon today, fuel was mostly in the hands of black marketers who sold at between #300 and #500 per litre depending on locations.
A few of the marketers alleged that it was difficult for them to see fuel to buy, adding that they would continue selling at high cost unless filling stations crash the price.
In the meanwhile, many Lagosians have described the current fuel issue as artificially induced as well as a strategy by the authorities, in collaboration with the stakeholders to finally effect the rumoured increase in the price of fuel.
