Fuel scarcity cripples commercial activities in Niger

Aminu Garko

The scarcity of petroleum products has crippled socioeconomic activities in the Minna metropolis with long queues of vehicles waiting to get the products at various filling stations.

Most fuel stations were locked while long queues were noticed in retail outlets in Kwagungu, Shiroro road, Tunga, Bosso, and western bye-pass on Tuesday.

Motorists at various filling stations were captured struggling to purchase petrol.

A car owner, Abubakr Umar, told NAN that there was fuel but did not know the reason for the queues.

He said: “All these boys selling the products are agents of some managers of filling stations and petrol attendants selling at a high price.”

He urged the government to bring sanity to the oil sector once and for all.

“They encourage a black market and most times their fuel is adulterated. Why do we have to face this kind of problem every month,” Umar added.

Alhaji Isa Kagara called on the federal government to find a lasting solution to the current scarcity of the products.

“I have been at NNPC mega station since yesterday awaiting to get the products at government control price.

Alhaji Mohammed Ali of Shroro road told NAN that there is no basis for the scarcity of the products as most of the filling stations in and outside the metropolis have the product but awaiting increases in pump price from the regulatory authority.

Ali said that there was enough fuel on the ground, purely sabotage.

“I urge all the regulating authorities to sanction fuel station owners found hoarding the products, They are making people suffer unnecessarily and it’s for their selfish reason,” he said.

Musa Haladu a commercial driver said that he has been at the petrol station since 5 pm and was yet to buy petrol.

“This is my source of livelihood. My family depends on this daily and this fuel problem will slow my productivity and return for the day.

” I am scared of buying from the black market because the last time I did, they sold bad fuel to me and it spoiled my fuel pump and I spent more money in fixing it.

” Everything is hard now and this will be bad for the citizens, Abraham said.