Fuel scarcity bites hard in Niger state

…major marketers close stations, litre now sells for N200

BY MAIRIGA Juliana, Minna

Scarcity of petroleum products which first started in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and surroundings have spread to Niger state, Minna the state capital in particular where a litre of fuel now sales for N200 and above at the black markets.

All the major marketers within Minna metropolis and its environs have their filling stations closed for, ‘fear of attacks’, while queue that resurfaced at the NNPC Mega station along Nnamdi Azikiwe way, western by-pass Minna soon dispersed when they ran out of stock.

Our correspondent who went round town as the effects of the artificial scarcity bites harder realized that some of marketers secretly sell to black marketers and persons with state government plate numbers ‘on special arrangements’ at odd hours of the night.

Black marketers who have resurfaced at strategic positions and major streets in Minna the state capital and environs claimed they buy fuel from major marketers in the dead hour of the night or from adjourning villages for N170 and sell for N200 and above.

The fuel scarcity has however had its toll on citizens who are appealing on Governor Abubarkar Sani Bello to intervene with the intent of ending what they termed, ‘artificial scarcity caused by major marketers who hoard the commodity and refuse to sell to the general public’.

Some customers in one of the Total filling stations, along western by-pass said they are not happy with the state government for doing nothing to alleviate the sufferings when they saw state government registered number being attended to but were denied same opportunity.

While other state administrations’ have risen to their aid by mandating petroleum dealers in their respective states to end the artificial fuel scarcity, the customers said it is unfortunate that Governor Bello who is said to be out of the state is doing nothing to end their predicaments.

The hope of customers getting fuel from the station when they saw a government functionary in a blue Peugeot salon car with registration number, RB 13 NG, being attended to were however dashed when the attendant vehemently refused to listen to pleas to sell to them.

She later told our correspondent that she was acting on the orders from her Manager not to sell to anybody except the man with the government car plate number as she battled to send frustrated customers who rushed in and lined up to be attended to when they saw her fueling the man’s car out of the filling station before closing for the day.

The Director Petroleum Resources (DPR), in the state could not be reached as their office along old Airport road Minna was locked when our correspondent visited to ascertain efforts made to compel marketers hoarding the products to sell fuel to the general public.


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