Fuel Scarcity Hits Ondo State | Photos

The fuel scarcity sweeping through Nigerian cities, has hit Ondo State, causing panic among the many residents in the area.
An exclusive Sahara Reporters report has shown that the scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) otherwise known as petroleum (fuel) has hit all the major cities across Ondo State.
Many gas stations visited on Wednesday by our correspondent in Akure showed that the consumers of the product have resulted in panic buying of the products.
The only few gas stations that have the product (fuel) are already recording long queues with a liter of petrol selling for N145 and N200 per liter.
Many motorists were seen in the major towns besieging the petroleum stations to purchase the scarce product with an attendant of long queues for fuel.
It had been, through weekend observed the petrol scarcity as many of the gas stations shut their gate against panic buying motorists.
SaharaReporters who was at the Mega station of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) on the Akure/Ilesha road reported that there was a long queue of motorists trying to get the product.
Also, petroleum stations along the Ijapo, Oyemekun, Alagbaka, NEPA, and Ijoka road shut down and placed their building under locked up and keys.
Those gas stations along Ondo road and Oba-Ile route were opened for sales but experienced queues of customers.
The customers were sighted arguing and groaning under the hash economy under the federal government led by President Muhammadu Buhari of the APC.
Others who as well opened their stations for sale of the products at Owo, Ikare, Akungba, and Ogbese all employed the services of some touts who taxed are taxing buyers before they get access to buy fuel.
A motorist, Dada Adesanmi told Sahara Reporters that the scarcity of the product has already caused untold hardship for residents in the state.
Mr. Adesanmi who expressed fear over a possible hike in transport fare due to the scarcity and price of the petrol product said: “Nothing seems to be working again in this country. Just imagine, few days to Christmas and we (Nigerians) are experiencing difficulties in getting fuel.”
 
“As you can now see, the increase has affected the economy of the state because transport fare will be hike soon according to distance.” 
He added that the petrol scarcity aside hindering the business and social life in the state, has also caused free flow of traffic as some streets are impassable.
“Like Ijoka Road, that area was blocked yesterday (Tuesday) evening because we all want to get the fuel into our vehicles at all cost,” he said.
A trader, Mrs. Margret Oyetunde said the scarcity of the product has affected her business and begged the government to urgently step in by making the product all available to the consumers.
 
“In my shop, I use a generator to power my refrigerators but now that the product is scarce, things are getting difficult,” she said.
 
“I am begging the government to please come in urgently and save the masses because we are the people in a queue to buy fuel, those in government enjoy.”
A manager in one of the gas stations that pleaded anonymity revealed that the scarcity was caused by the Independent Petroleum Marketers of Nigeria (IPMAN) who have reduced supply to some of the outlets.
 
“Go and ask the independent marketers why they are reducing supply to us, like here (gas station) we have six lorries but they only sold us one lorry.”
 
“So, they are the ones causing all this and like I told one of the motorists, it is not that there is no fuel, but the main reason was that supply has been reduced.”
He added further that if urgent steps are not taking by the authorities concern, the scarcity would bite harder in the state and nationwide.
Due to the scarcity, civil servants in the state are also going through hard times as some of them lamented over getting to work early.
A Sahara Reporters correspondent who is following the situation reports on the scarcity also reported that some gas stations are now hoarding the product.
When contacted the Department of the Petroleum Resources (DPR) for reaction, a staff in the office in Akure turned down the calls placed on their phones.

Source: SaharaReporters