Massive queues have been spotted in filling stations at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and Oyo State despite the claim by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation that it had enough Premium Motor Spirit that will sustain the country for the next 40 days.
Surveillance at Satellite town in FCT, Ibadan, Damaturu, showed that many filing stations are filled with queues by motorists who are struggling to buy fuel.
It was noticed that the retail outlets between Kubwa and Zuba Expressway in the FCT did not sell fuel. Also, no station sold at Zuba,Giri junction and Airport Road by Soka .
In Ibadan, several filling stations closed their gates against the motorists that were there to buy fuel.
At Akobo, Ojoo, Bashorun, Idi-Ape, Iwo Road, Total Garden, Bodija, Mokola, Monatan, Agbowo, Eleyele, Ologuneru, Challenge, Molete, Oke-Ado, Oje, Samonda, Bodija, Sango, Eleyele road, the filling stations were not operating.
Meanwhile, few of the filling stations that opened for operation sold at a high price of N165 to N200.
The situation however, led some commuters to embark on trekking to their various destinations.
Reacting, the IPMAN Chairman in Oyo and Osun states Alhaji Bukola Mutiu, said NNPC would provide a better explanation on the fuel scarcity.
“On Saturday, we drove around Ibadan and filling stations were dispensing fuel. But it was surprising that on Sunday, they stopped dispensing. And the situation went worse on Monday (yesterday).
“If the NNPC task force can do their work, things will change. I am sure that Oyo State Government will also take some steps towards ensuring that things return to normal”, Mutiu said.
NNPC had in a statement yesterday warned fuel marketers, especially IPMAN members, to desist from hoarding the product,
A statement by the Group General Manager (Group Public Affairs Division), Dr Kennie Obateru, said consumer should not engage in panic buying as there was no plan for a hike in the price of the fuel.
Obateru said: “The corporation states that it has enough stock of petrol to keep the nation well supplied for over 40 days and urges motorists to avoid panic buying.
“It further called on relevant regulatory authorities to step up monitoring of the activities of marketers with a view to sanctioning those involved in product hoarding or arbitrary increase of pump price.”
But, in a telephone interview, IPMAN National Vice-President Abubakar Maigandi, insisted that NNPC and private depots were not selling to marketers.
“As I told you at the weekend, the private depots are not selling petrol. Besides, the NNPC depots are not selling to us. If the corporation says it has petrol, this week is enough for it to prove availability with abundant supply,” he added.