Fuel scarcity questions subsidy regime

Contrary to claims by the Goodluck Jonathan administration that it has been able to eradicate fuel queues at filling stations in the country as a result of scarcity of the product, the queues have resurfaced in Abuja, some parts of Lagos State, and some other parts of the country.

‎‎‎The fuel crisis in Abuja worsened weekend, as many of the petrol stations across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, were shut down, leaving motorists stranded.

This was in spite of claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, on Friday, that it is injecting about 688 million of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, into the market.

Motorists had to resort to the black market‎, where roadside petrol sellers now sell the commodity for as high as N250 per litre.

However, the NNPC, Sunday, promised that it is working to ensure that the situation is addressed quickly and assured Nigerians that the fuel supply situation will improve in the coming days.

Spokesperson for the NNPC, Mr. Ohi Alegbe, blamed the scarcity on‎ panic buying by motorists and sharp practices by some retail outlets who are hoarding the commodity, thereby frustrating efforts to stem the scarcity.

He said the NNPC has informed the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, of the ‎these sharp practices by some petrol stations’ owners for adequate sanctions against them.

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