Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Fuel scarcity has again resurfaced in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, causing long human and vehicular queues that spills into major roads in the oil rich city.
Checks by our correspondent shows that most filling stations along Airport Road, Ikwerre Road and Aba Road do not have products, as they are under lock and key.
The situation has made the few filling stations dispensing products to experience large crowd and long queues.
Most commercial drivers who spoke to our correspondent in Port Harcourt, said the pump price of fuel has not increased but most stations were not dispensing.
Speaking on the development, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, in Rivers State, Dr Joseph Obele, confirmed that most filling stations have ran out of stock.
Obele also said that out of the 18 petroleum depots in the state, only one had product, which according to him, was impossible to service over 700 marketers in the state.
The IPMAN Chairman warned that if by this weekend vessels carrying products does not arrive the country, Port Harcourt will join Abuja and Lagos to experience full blown fuel scarcity, where petrol is reportedly being sold for N400 per litre
“As at yesterday, out of the 18 depots in Rivers state, only one had products and 700 marketers under my leadership placed request for products but the depot was only able to service less than 100. This means that over 600 marketers went home without product.
“Marketers in Rivers State are gradually running out of stocks and how we can restock whereas depots already are out of stock.”
The IPMAN Chairman, however, disclosed that PPMC has assured that vessels with petroleum products would arrived Nigeria in no distant time, although the Association does not know when exactlmoment.
He also cautioned against panic buying at the moment.
“Some filling stations are still dispensing but majority of stations are going out of stock, because where to buy again is the issue.
“From now till weekend, Rivers State may likely experience fuel scarcity until the new stocks imported by NNPC arrives the country, to replace the controversial toxic fuel that arrived three weeks ago.”
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