20 March 2015, Lagos – Fuel scarcity returned, yesterday, in Abuja and Lagos as long queues resurfaced in almost all petrol stations across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT and Lagos
This was even as the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) blamed the development on a shortfall of about 90 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, lifting from depots supplying the FCT and environs.
A number of petrol stations were shut down, claiming to have run out of products to sell. Long queues was seen in all the petrol stations across the FCT irrespective of whether fuel is being dispensed or not.
Total and Conoil petrol stations, opposite the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, though selling, was besieged by motorists, who spent several hours before they could purchase the product.
Almost all the petrol stations along the Kubwa Expressway: MRS, Oando, Mobil among others, were selling, but large number of motorists were seen struggling to gain access to the station.
Oando petrol station at Zone 4 and Total at Area 11, opposite the headquarters of the Nigerian Police, were besieged by motorists causing gridlock on the adjoining roads.
Long queues of motorists were seen at NNPC, Conoil and MRS petrol stations along the Airport Road.
Some of the motorists told Vanguard that the scarcity started weekend, with slight queues in some petrol stations in the FCT.
In Lagos, Vanguard investigation showed that the numerous filling stations from Ojodu-Berger towards Oworonshoki end of Lagos-Ibadan expressway were closed, while motorists queued in some others that were open in anticipation of getting the product.
However, filling stations mainly at Ajegunle, Festac, Kirikiri and Apapa, were seen selling fuel at the regulated price of N87 per liter yesterday as at the time of filing this report.
This has not affected transportation, neither have fares been increased.
Reacting to the return of queues at the petrol station, Mr. Mohammed Saidu, Head, Public Affairs, DPR, Abuja office, disclosed that there was a slight decline in the lifting of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, from the Suleja depot by oil marketers in the FCT and environs.
Vanguard
