Scramble in queues for Premium Motor Spirit popularly reffered to as petrol extended to several filling stations in Lagos even as black marketers sell the product for N350 a litre.
Several sellers told revealed on Monday that they sold the product between N320 and N350 per litre.
Said a seller in Satellite Town: “We used to sell the product for N250 before now. But as the product price has increased at fuel stations, we had no choice but to increase our price to N350 a litre”.
Queues were on Monday, witnessed across some filling stations while some others shut down services in the state — a situation motorists have had to put up with for about one week.
Motorists also crowded an attendant at the Conoil filling station in Oregun and another at the filling station in Ikeja.
On the other hand, the MRS filling station at Ojota was closed due to lack of adequate supply, a petrol attendant informed.
Said he: “The petrol station is closed because the supply we got is not enough. However, later in the day, we may still open later. We are still expecting more supplies later”.
Eterna filling station in Oshodi was also closed.
Across Lagos State, transport fares have also increased due to petrol scarcity.
Cried a commuter: “The price of the fare increased from N150 to N200.
“I had to queue under the sun for 12 minutes to board a minibus. Just imagine. Yesterday, I also had to queue to get petrol. It is tiring”.
Mike Osatuyi, national operations controller of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said limited petroleum products at depots caused the scarcity.
Said Osatuyi: “We don’t have fuel. If there is fuel, then we have something to sell. The little that’s available, we are buying at N205. When you add transport, that’s about N213 before you can add your profit. That’s the truth.
“Even if you want to buy at N205 now, you won’t even see to buy.
“NNPC said the fuel is available, but we don’t see it. If we are able to see the fuel, that’s the only way we can confirm that the product is available. Let’s wait and see for the next few days”.
