From Uche Usim, Abuja
Frustration and anguish are the best words to describe the mood of Abuja residents who are facing a fresh round of petrol scarcity, despite a remarkable increase in the pump price by oil marketers. Petrol goes from between N165/litre at NNPC mega stations to N175-N205 at filling stations owned by independent marketers.
Daily Sun observed that most filling stations in Abuja metropolis were shut on Thursday and the few that operated had terrible queues snaking several metres around them.
The ugly scenario is at variance with promises made by the Group Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), Mr Mele Kyari, during the last Sallah celebration where he assured that the queues will disappear in a few days.
When contacted for reasons behind the resurgent queues, an NNPC source directed Daily Sun to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
“This issue has been off and on. Please contact NMDPRA,” he said.
Related: How fuel, forex scarcity, runway closure crippled our operations –Airlines
Meanwhile, motorists have lampooned the NNPC and other agencies for the recurrent petrol crisis, saying the federal government have run out of excuses as it continues to play Russian roulette with the economic life of the country.
Dan Ali, a commercial bus driver lamented: “Is this not hell on earth? Despite the increase in the pump price of petrol, we are still languishing in long queues. This is totally unacceptable for a major oil-producing country. I’m sick of Nigeria.”
Flora Igwe, a civil servant said: “I took Mr Mele Kyari’s promises to heart thinking the days of hellish queues were over. How wrong I was. We’re back to this terrible situation again after three days of respite”.