Fuel scarcity hits Jos

However, most motorists in Jos have expressed concern about the situation.

Some of the motorists, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos, alleged that some petrol marketers increased the price of petrol.

NAN also reported that at a few filling stations dispensing, the product is being sold for between N170 and N200 per litre.

Operators of the black market have taken advantage of the scarcity to increase the price of the product at their ends from N1, 000 to N1, 300 per four-litre gallon

However, the product is sold at the approved price of N162 at the NNPC mega station located around the Dogon Karfe area of Jos, but not without a long queue.

Chomo, said that the rationale for the scarcity could not be ascertained, but alleged that the trend could be associated with government planned increase of the price of petrol.

“This has forced commercial drivers to increase transport fares to enable make gains and also cover up for the hours they spend on queues,’’ he said.

Mr Peter Okolo, a businessman said that the scarcity would not only affect the individual’s income but the general revenue of the government, as people spent productive time on queues in search of fuel

“We all know time is money, and as I am talking to you, I have spent over four hours on queue without moving an inch.

“I have spent four good hours out of my productive time in search of one commodity, yet I still haven’t got it; I am still here.

“So, if businessmen, civil servants, artisans, farmers and host of others will spend hours on queue just to get one commodity, then it is unfortunate for our growing economy,” he lamented.

Mr Joseph Dung, a farmer, said: “Government must as matter of urgency address this because it has negatively affected other spheres of human endeavours”.

But Mr John Jeff, a civil servant, described the scarcity as “artificial” and blamed the unfortunate trend on the independent marketers who are bent on making profits at all costs.

Jeff alleged that the marketers were hoarding old stocks in anticipation of the increase in the price of the essential commodity in the coming months.

“For me, the current scarcity of fuel is just an artificial arrangement created by independent marketers.

“This is sheer wickedness by Nigerians to their fellow citizens,’’ he said