BENIN CITY – The perennial scarcity of petroleum products, notably Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) which characterized the yuletide has continued to hit Benin City and environs harder.
Consequently, long queues of vehicles and increased human traffic of anxious buyers with jerry –cans have become prominent features in the few filling stations that are selling the products.
When The NIGERIAN OBSERVER went round the town yesterday, virtually all the filling stations along the ever busy Akpakpava Road were closed to business following scarcity of the products.
However, conoil filling station was seen dispensing fuel with only two dispensing pumps as long queues of vehicles in a disorderly manner pervaded the station, while anxious buyers with jerry cans clustered round the dispensing pumps.
The few dealers selling the products also cashed in on the scarcity to adjust their fuel pumps to between N100 and N110 per – litre.
At Ugbowo axis of Benin City, only few filling stations were opened to motorists, as travelers groaned over the abnormal increase in the pump price of the products.
The situation at the Upper Sakponba Road axis in Benin City was not different as some dealers were more interested in the sales of the products into jerry cans at high cost.
Meanwhile, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Benin depot, Mr. Douglas Iyike said there was no cause for alarm, as most marketers have resolved to buy the products from Lagos or Port-Harcourt.
Iyike, who expressed hope that the products would be available soon, said major marketers have continued to buy the products from private depots that are selling the products.
He explained that the current trend of scarcity may not be unconnected with the holidays within the period, after members of NUPENG called off their three days warning strike.