18th January, 2012
Long queues were observed at filling stations in several parts of Lagos, Southwest Nigeria today as fuel scarcity bites harder.
Most of the filling stations were not still dispensing fuel 48 hours after the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC and the Trade Union Congress, TUC, called off the strike against the removal of fuel subsidy by the Federal Government.
P.M.NEWS checks in some parts of the Lagos metropolis showed that the majority of the filling stations were not selling the commodity as they remained shut to customers.
The few filling stations dispensing fuel were selling at the new pump price of N97 per litre.
At Abule Egba, filling stations like Conoil, Total, NNPC Mega Station, SO filling station, MRS and Mobil were not dispensing fuel as the commodity seemed to be out of reach or some of them may simply be hoarding the product to create artificial scarcity so that they can sell at exorbitant prices.
However, Petrol Manager at Abule Egba was dispensing the product this morning at the approved rate of N97 per litre amidst long queue.
On Old Abeokuta Road, filling stations like Mobil, Oando, MRS and Total were shut to customers as they were not selling the product, while fuel station such as Conoil on the same road was selling the product at N97 per litre but with a long queue.
In Agege, Total filling station was not selling but AP was selling the product at N97 per litre. A long queue was noticed at the station.
On Ijaiye Road, Ogba, Mobil Filling Station was selling fuel at N97 per litre with a long queue formed while filling stations such as Total was not selling the product.
On Agidingbi Road, Mobil filling station opposite Daily Times was selling the commodity at the rate of N97 per litre. Several motorists formed long queues to purchase the scarce commodity.
None of the filling stations sold throughout Igando and Iyana Iba areas of Lagos.
At Egbeda only ultimate filling station sold fuel at N97 per litre, but P.M.NEWS discovered that the station collected N250 extra from every motorist and N50 from those buying in kegs as commission.
Those who refused to pay the commission were prevented from buying.
From Egbeda to Iyana-Ipaja, no filling station including General, Mobil, Good Morning, Nimsky, Ultimate, YTK, Oando, Total had the product for sale. Many of the workers at the stations were seen idling away while some played the game of draught.
One of the salesmen at YTK filling station explained that some of the filling stations had the product but have been instructed not to sell.
“Though some us do not have, others prefer to sell to black marketers since they would make more profit,” he said.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga & Eromosele Ebhomele