Many motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are frustrated by the current fuel crisis and long lines at gas stations.
According to newsmen who monitored fuel stations in Abuja, many stations are not dispensing products, and the few that are are causing serious traffic due to long queues.
The motorists also expressed their displeasure with the country’s cash crunch, which they claim is exacerbating the problem, and urged the Federal Government to intervene immediately.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) blamed the petrol queues in Abuja and other parts of the country on business and movement restrictions during the presidential and National Assembly elections.
The NNPCL said operations had resumed at the depots and trucks are being dispatched to various parts of the country.
A motorist, Mr. Aloysius Osita, told newsmen that the resurfacing of fuel scarcity is adding to the demoralized state of residents.
He added that “I thought that the issue of petrol scarcity has been addressed finally, but I was surprised to see queues everywhere.
“It has worsened the situation, given queuing for petrol and Point of Sale (POS) payment at the same time.
“After queuing for petrol, you will also queue for POS, which may decline and alter the fuel purchase.”
Another motorist, Mr . Gbemi Olugbenga, expressed concern over the unavailability of products and urged the regulatory authority to hasten product distribution to cushion the effect.
Olugbenga said, “sometimes, some petrol stations are taken over by touts who usually hijack the fuel station’s management, causing more hardship and traffic for other commuters.”
Some of the residents also lamented the lack of fuel to power their generators for businesses and domestic use.
Media reports that “black marketers” are also seen making brisk sales, selling 10 litres of petrol at N4,000 through electronic transfer or POS payment, and N3,500 for cash payment.
One of the sellers who would not want to be identified said the “black marketers” had been facing difficulties in getting fuel from the stations, adding that most of them insist on cash payment instead of transfer or POS payment.
Meanwhile, the NNPCL retail outlets sell a litre of petrol at N940, while other fuel stations sell at N950 per litre.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) had said it was working with other stakeholders to mitigate the tightness being experienced in the distribution of fuel.
