Fuel scarcity has returned to Ilorin, Kwara state capital following the alleged hoarding of the product as declared by the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
BusinessDay observed that queues had pilled up at various filling stations that are dispensing premium motor spirit (PMS), especially within Ilorin metropolis as vehicular logjams are
Our Correspondent, who visited some filling stations, including Oange Oil Limited along Tanke junction, showed that the queue was too heavy for motorists and commuters to bear.
As of the time of filling this report, Bovas filling station at Offa Garage which was dispensing the product to motorists, but a number of filling stations along Ajase
-Ipo road, NNPC at Muritala Mohammed way and Neemam along Challenge area were not selling which was causing panic of future scarcity of the essential product.
A motorist waiting to get commodity who identified himself as Rahman Ibrahim said: “I don’t know what caused the scarcity but it is good that they didn’t increase the fuel price. I have been here for over one hour and I know I will get fuel before I leave here.”
Bukola Imam, also a buyer at MRS filling station at Post Office, who spoke to our correspondent expressed worry over the scenario, saying: ” honestly, I don’t know why we are left to suffer. I tracked from Mararaba to this place just to get fuel because all petrol stations were not selling. Something must be done to this problem urgently”.
Speaking on the development in a telephone interview, the Kwara State Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Olarewaju Okanlawon said, “The PMS’ scarcity in the metropolis was as a result of shortage in supply of the product.”
He added that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is aware of the situation and has started to proffer solutions.
Ayodele Ibitoye, Head of Operations, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in Kwara state, explained that the scarcity was caused by hoarding on the part of the marketers.
He said, “The shortage of fuel supply doesn’t warrant the scarcity in the metropolis considering the purchasing power of average Kwara resident. Before today you will agree with me that there is no filling station you will see about four vehicles queuing.
“Some of the marketers are deliberately hoarding fuel by dispensing only one pump. That’s why we came out to enforce compliance by ensuring that the marketers sell the product in all the pumps or we’ll seal their stations.
“We observed that the only filling stations that usually record a little queue are Bovas and NNPC mega stations because of their price (N143 per litre). Even at that, there wasn’t queue at Bovas, Sango area as all the vehicles were inside the compound this afternoon.
“At Total filling station, Sango, they were selling one pump, so we forced them to sell the other four pumps and the queue disappeared. The marketers are intentionally hoarding but because we came out, they discontinued it.”
Ibitayo confirmed that about 21 trucks of PMS were received yesterday in Kwara State adding that there was no need for any form of scarcity.
He therefore warned marketers against hoarding and adulteration.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
