Long queues reemerged in many parts of Amuwo-Odofin on Wednesday as motorists spent hours at filling stations to buy Petroleum Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.
As early as 7:30 am cars have been seen lining up and waiting for fir some stations to start dispensing FUEL. which then causes traffic on the road for commuters and motorists in the community.
This same situation is worse in the evening time when does who have returned from work or are returning are trying to purchase the petroleum product still causing traffic and making commuting hard.
Some stations have remained closed and not selling fuel to the public, and Festaconline Media could not ascertain the real cause.
This ugly development has left many commuters stranded, traffic buildup unbearable, etc.
In aspect of pricing, some stations owned by Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) sell between N200 and N230 per liter while filling stations owned by the Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) had petrol and sell at the regulated price of N170 per litre.
A motorist, who identified himself as Mrs. Joy Okugbue, told FESTACONLINE MDIA that She had been in the queue since 6.00 a.m. hoping to get fuel and GO ABOUT HER AYS ACTIVITY.
Musa Danladi complained bitterly saying that he believes it’s a Mber month routine but hopes for the said government should find a lasting solution to the petrol supply in Lagos to avoid panic-buying.
Jude Ishegbe spoke to fESTACONLINE Media and complained that the stations attendant are charging as high as 500 per jerry can.
Why there is Scarcity?
Reacting to the situation, the National Operations Controller, IPMAN, Mr. Mike Osatuyi, blamed the scarcity on private depots and the increasing difficulty in accessing petroleum products.
Osatuyi said those that had to sell had to go the extra mile to get the product to their filling stations.
He explained that at the moment, most lPMAN members could not source the commodity due to a supply shortage that had lingered.
Besides, he said getting petrol to members’ filling stations from the depots now costs as much as N200 per liter in some instances.
“It is a sad development. Some of my members now pay as much as N200 per liter to buy petrol from the depot, including the cost of transportation and other charges incurred.
“So, in this situation, how much do you think we will sell petrol at the pump?” he asked.
He maintained that the fuel situation was not likely to ease up except the government found a lasting solution to the supply issue and cost.
“Total deregulation remains the best solution to ending fuel scarcity.
“The deregulation of the downstream sector remains the only potent and lasting solution to this scarcity.
“But the cost implication of the policy will make the price of petrol too expensive for Nigerians, as deregulation will shift the burden from the government to users of the product,” Osatuyi said.
He said payment of subsidy was no longer sustainable and urged Nigerians to face reality now to avoid the unpalatable experiences that are usually associated with scarcity.
However, allocations are given to private depots who add their own charges as NNPC Ltd. remains the sole importer of PMS.