Fuel scarcity: Petrol now N250 per litre in Yola

As the seeming nationwide fuel scarcity eases, a litre of petrol is still being sold at about N250 in Yola, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A check conducted by NAN in Yola and its environs on Monday showed that almost all the filling stations were closed down.

However, the commodity was available at road side `black markets’ and filling stations owned by independent marketers on most major roads and streets.

The filling stations owned by the major marketers such as Total, Conoil and Oando, were also shut down due to shortage in the fuel supply system.

Mr Gibson Audu of the Total filling station on Banks Road, Jimeta, told NAN that the scarcity of petroleum products was caused by inadequate supply from Gombe and Warri loading depots.

“Anytime the fuel is available, we will sell it because the situation is seriously affecting us,” Audu said.

At some black market filling stations in Jimeta and Yola, petrol is being sold at N250 per litre.

Meanwhile, unemployed youths are now making brisk businesses at the road side black markets, popularly known as “Yan chuwa-chuwa”, on daily basis.

The report added that the youth were selling the commodity at their choice cut-throat prices.

Mr Haruna Jibo, hawking on Jimeta-Yola road, said that he bought petrol from some filling stations in the night at a cost of N150 per litre.

“We sold it to motorists between N200 and N250 per litre”, Jibo said. The situation had forced commercial motorists plying Yola-Jimeta road and other routes to charge additional 10 per cent fare.

A top official of NNPC Yola depot declined to comment while the state Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Yahya Tobacco, was said to have travelled to Abuja when a NAN correspondent visited their offices. (NAN)