THE INFORMANT247
6-11-2017.
Long queues of vehicles have returned to filling stations in Kwara State as fuel scarcity bites harder in the city.
THE INFORMANT247 observed that motorists and other petrol users started experiencing fuel scarcity in the state metropolis since last yesterday even though its price stood at N143 per liter.
Our correspondent, who went round the state metropolis, discovered that many filing stations were under lock and keys due to lack of fuel, while the few that have the commodity were battling with customers.
A motorist, Abubakar Ibrahim described the development as unfortunate, saying “It is very unfortunate that we are experiencing fuel scarcity at a period like this. I have to queue for up to 3-4 hours before i get get my tank filled with PMS. The Government should please look into this as soon as possible.
Another driver, Saheed Adedeji blamed the Independent Marketers for the scarcity, saying the marketers wanted to create hardships to motorists.
He said, “These people wanted to make us suffer and that is why they stopped the supply. It is unfortunate that the independent marketers don’t put people’s condition into consideration but are only after their own gain.
However, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Kwara State chapter,
Alhaji Okanlawon Olanrewaju has warned during a press briefing where he emphasised that if proper measures are not taken to avert the impending petroleum products scarcity in the state, they may be force to close all their filling stations in the state.
“As I speak to you PMS is sold between N142 and N143 at private depot to our members and when we add N6 to it that is already more than the approved price by the government.
“Ibadan and Mosimi where we usually get our products have also reduce their supply to Kwara state and for more than three years now, the Ilorin depot have not gotten supply making is difficult for our members.
“We paid money for PMS since June this year and also for DPK since April this year to the NNPC which we have not gotten the supply till now and we discovered that NNPC is selling to private depots that charge us exorbitantly and the department of petroleum resources is seeing all that but they keep mum over it. It is when we increase our prices that DPR will start disturbing our members,” Olanrewaju said.
He added that for the scarcity to be averted, there should be increase loading volume of PMS to Ilorin marketers from Mosimi, dedication of special loading arms to Ilorin at Ibadan PPMC depot as well as immediate pumping of petroleum product to Ilorin NNPC depot.
“If all these conditions are not met by Friday this week, all our members will close their filling state all over the state from Monday next week and nobody should blame us for the action,” the chairman said.