Motorists in Lagos Friday lauded the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for its intervention by compelling petrol dealers hoarding the product to dispense to motorists.
They gave the commendation during the inspection tour of DPR officials led by Mr Musa Tambawal, the Head of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, to some filling stations in Lagos and its environs.
Some of the filling stations visited by DPR team included Mobil and MRS filling stations in Victoria Island, MRS, Ascon, Oando and Conoil on Muritala Muhammed Way in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
The DPR officials had in the wake of scarcity of petrol embarked on monitoring and enforcement visit to some filling stations in the state.
Some of the motorists, who spoke with NAN, expressed gratitude to the management of DPR for compelling the dealers in all filling stations to dispense the product to motorists.
In his comments, Mr Wale Adeyemi, a commercial bus driver, alleged, “the filling stations in this area had in the last three days refused to sell fuel in their underground tanks.
“These stations only opened to buyers who came with jerry cans in the evening hours and sold the product to them at exorbitant price.
“The presence of DPR officials here has changed things for us, otherwise, they would not sell the product to us. We were forced to journey to Apapa everyday to get the product,” Adeyemi said.
Another motorist, Mrs Chinyere Okoro, said that a friend informed her of the presence of DPR in the filling station, which encouraged her to leave her to come to the station.
“I urge the regulators to constantly be on guard against the nefarious and fraudulent acts of these marketers and dealers, who often hoard the product.
“These stations would have shut their gates immediately after the inspection visit of DPR officials,
“This dealers and marketers are not fair to the masses, who are desperately in need of petrol for their daily activities,” Okoro said.
Tambawal, while reacting, called on marketers to shun this illicit act of hoarding petrol or face penalties.
According to him, there are lots of insinuations that filling stations are refusing to sell petrol to motorists and other users of this product.
“As you can see, some stations are storing more than the minimum dead stock level. Dead stock is the level at which the product can no longer be dispensed.
“We are going to ensure that Nigerians are not defrauded. It is also important for us to manage the supply to ensure that it gets to our consumers.
“If we find any station engaging in sharp practices, the arm of the law will be used on the defaulter,” Tambawal said.
In Edo State, the government in collaboration with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) commenced monitoring of petrol stations in the state and has vowed to prosecute marketers found to be hoarding the products.
In a statement signed by Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state explained that the exercise is to ensure that the products allocated to Edo State are dispensed to buyers at the official pump prices and save the people the hardship they suffer in the hands of shylock marketers.
According to the statement, “Edo State has been sufficiently supplied with petroleum products and received a fresh 465,000 litres this weekend, in addition to the 296,000 litres loaded to the state on Tuesday this week.”
“Motorists and other users of petroleum products should refrain from panic buying that causes unnecessary queues at petrol stations and traffic congestion on major roads in the state.
“Marketers are hereby warned to ensure judicious dispensing of allocated products as government will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute any erring marketer,” the statement said.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, some residents have resorted to trekking long distances due to the scarcity petrol and the high transport fares.
This is as a result of the nationwide scarcity of petrol which goes between N150 and 250 in some parts of the ancient city.
It was observed that hundred of commuters trekking long distance due to scarcity of vehicles and commercial motorcycles in many parts of the city.
Many bus stops within the city are currently flooded with commuters who were stranded as they waited endlessly to no avail.
Transport fare that goes for N100 from Mokola to Ojoo is now between 200 and 250. The one from Gate to UI is now N150-N200 instead of N100. From Ajibode Junction to Ojoo is now N50 instead of N20.
This, according to some commuters, made those with the ability, to trek through such areas as Ajibode, Apete, UI, Ojoo, Secretariat, Ogunpa, Dugbe and Mokola among others.
Many filling stations that were partially selling the product on Tuesday and Wednesday were under lock on Thursday and Friday.
Those that were selling did so between N150 and N 250 per litre.
A resident of Ologun-Eru lamented on Friday that some of the petrol stations selling the product in his area were selling between N150 and N185 per litre.
The scarcity has also afforded some youths in areas such as Mokola, Sabo and Ajibode to turn the situation in making brick business by selling 4-5 litres of Petrol at the rate of N1500- N3000 depending on the bargaining power of the prospective buyer.
A resident of Ajibode who begged not to be mentioned informed that he had spent many hours at a petrol station on Thursday to no avail but had to go out as early as 6.am to search for the product.
Another resident of Ibadan noted that though the petrol is still sell at the normal price in his area, but it will take one about 5 hours before he can get the product.
He said: “They are still selling at the normal price of N140. But it is a very long queue, you will spend up to five hours before you get it.
“But those selling black market, they sell four litres for N1500.
A cross section of our respondents appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the persistent problem.
Latest reports from Anambra State indicate that the situation has worsened as customers now pay between N250 and N300 per litre in the state.
Most filling stations in Awka and its environs had the product but refused to dispense.
However, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) monitoring and enforcing the situation, compelled marketers to sell the product at the government regulated price of N145 per litre
The team, which came from Enugu Office, also sealed 12 filling stations, including an NNPC mega station for hoarding the product.
The team, led by Daniel Atama, however, met stiff resistance at Stanel Service Station which set its meter at N145 but was not dispensing, in spite of the long queues of motorists who had waited for over 24 hours.
The DPR efforts to get the owners of the station to sell proved abortive as the manager said he would only sell at whenever he wished and would not take orders from DPR.
Atama subsequently placed a seal order on the station for hoarding the products but an official of the station pulled the seal off immediately and threw it away right before the DPR team.
The DPR agents, however, left the station to avoid a brewing crisis.
But reacting to the development, Chris Orage, General Manager of the station said he did not remove the seal placed by the DPR.
Orage said the station had limited products and was trying to manage the queue.
He denied defying the DPR orders because the station enjoyed support from some highly placed people in Anambra government.
At an NNPC mega station, the entrance was closed while motorists waited patiently for them to start dispensing.
The DPR, however, entered the station and demanded that the underground tank be dipped to check if the product was available.
The DPR sealed the station when the attendants refused to obey the instruction after which the manager was called on phone and directed that the officials be allowed to check if the product was available.
However, it was discovered that about N12,000 litres of petrol was available and DPR also ordered instant dispensing of the product.
One of the motorists at the mega station, Innocent Uzor, said they were patiently waiting because the station usually sold at night.
“We are here because we know they have fuel and they sell at N145, they usually sell at night.
“We thank the DPR for this enforcement, these marketers just make us suffer, may be because it is Christmas,” he said.
Customers at ARCON filling Station, Unizik junction, NIPCO Amawbia and other stations were jubilant as the marketers were made to revert prices from between N200 and N220 to the normal price of N145 per litre.
Atama warned that the exercise would be a continuous one and that unscrupulous marketers should stop fleecing the public as there was no increase in the cost of petrol.
But the Managing Director of ARCON, whose outfit was also sealed for allegedly reverting to N200 after the DPR officials left, said it was impossible for them to sell at N145 because the landing cost was much more than that.
The MD, who did not disclose his name, said he would rather have his station sealed than sell at a loss.
Motorists in Lagos Friday lauded the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for its intervention by compelling petrol dealers hoarding the product to dispense to motorists.
They gave the commendation during the inspection tour of DPR officials led by Mr Musa Tambawal, the Head of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, to some filling stations in Lagos and its environs.
Some of the filling stations visited by DPR team included Mobil and MRS filling stations in Victoria Island, MRS, Ascon, Oando and Conoil on Muritala Muhammed Way in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
The DPR officials had in the wake of scarcity of petrol embarked on monitoring and enforcement visit to some filling stations in the state.
Some of the motorists, who spoke with NAN, expressed gratitude to the management of DPR for compelling the dealers in all filling stations to dispense the product to motorists.
In his comments, Mr Wale Adeyemi, a commercial bus driver, alleged, “the filling stations in this area had in the last three days refused to sell fuel in their underground tanks.
“These stations only opened to buyers who came with jerry cans in the evening hours and sold the product to them at exorbitant price.
“The presence of DPR officials here has changed things for us, otherwise, they would not sell the product to us. We were forced to journey to Apapa everyday to get the product,” Adeyemi said.
Another motorist, Mrs Chinyere Okoro, said that a friend informed her of the presence of DPR in the filling station, which encouraged her to leave her to come to the station.
“I urge the regulators to constantly be on guard against the nefarious and fraudulent acts of these marketers and dealers, who often hoard the product.
“These stations would have shut their gates immediately after the inspection visit of DPR officials,
“This dealers and marketers are not fair to the masses, who are desperately in need of petrol for their daily activities,” Okoro said.
Tambawal, while reacting, called on marketers to shun this illicit act of hoarding petrol or face penalties.
According to him, there are lots of insinuations that filling stations are refusing to sell petrol to motorists and other users of this product.
“As you can see, some stations are storing more than the minimum dead stock level. Dead stock is the level at which the product can no longer be dispensed.
“We are going to ensure that Nigerians are not defrauded. It is also important for us to manage the supply to ensure that it gets to our consumers.
“If we find any station engaging in sharp practices, the arm of the law will be used on the defaulter,” Tambawal said.
In Edo State, the government in collaboration with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) commenced monitoring of petrol stations in the state and has vowed to prosecute marketers found to be hoarding the products.
In a statement signed by Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state explained that the exercise is to ensure that the products allocated to Edo State are dispensed to buyers at the official pump prices and save the people the hardship they suffer in the hands of shylock marketers.
According to the statement, “Edo State has been sufficiently supplied with petroleum products and received a fresh 465,000 litres this weekend, in addition to the 296,000 litres loaded to the state on Tuesday this week.”
“Motorists and other users of petroleum products should refrain from panic buying that causes unnecessary queues at petrol stations and traffic congestion on major roads in the state.
“Marketers are hereby warned to ensure judicious dispensing of allocated products as government will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute any erring marketer,” the statement said.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, some residents have resorted to trekking long distances due to the scarcity petrol and the high transport fares.
This is as a result of the nationwide scarcity of petrol which goes between N150 and 250 in some parts of the ancient city.
It was observed that hundred of commuters trekking long distance due to scarcity of vehicles and commercial motorcycles in many parts of the city.
Many bus stops within the city are currently flooded with commuters who were stranded as they waited endlessly to no avail.
Transport fare that goes for N100 from Mokola to Ojoo is now between 200 and 250. The one from Gate to UI is now N150-N200 instead of N100. From Ajibode Junction to Ojoo is now N50 instead of N20.
This, according to some commuters, made those with the ability, to trek through such areas as Ajibode, Apete, UI, Ojoo, Secretariat, Ogunpa, Dugbe and Mokola among others.
Many filling stations that were partially selling the product on Tuesday and Wednesday were under lock on Thursday and Friday.
Those that were selling did so between N150 and N 250 per litre.
A resident of Ologun-Eru lamented on Friday that some of the petrol stations selling the product in his area were selling between N150 and N185 per litre.
The scarcity has also afforded some youths in areas such as Mokola, Sabo and Ajibode to turn the situation in making brick business by selling 4-5 litres of Petrol at the rate of N1500- N3000 depending on the bargaining power of the prospective buyer.
A resident of Ajibode who begged not to be mentioned informed that he had spent many hours at a petrol station on Thursday to no avail but had to go out as early as 6.am to search for the product.
Another resident of Ibadan noted that though the petrol is still sell at the normal price in his area, but it will take one about 5 hours before he can get the product.
He said: “They are still selling at the normal price of N140. But it is a very long queue, you will spend up to five hours before you get it.
“But those selling black market, they sell four litres for N1500.
A cross section of our respondents appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the persistent problem.
Latest reports from Anambra State indicate that the situation has worsened as customers now pay between N250 and N300 per litre in the state.
Most filling stations in Awka and its environs had the product but refused to dispense.
However, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) monitoring and enforcing the situation, compelled marketers to sell the product at the government regulated price of N145 per litre
The team, which came from Enugu Office, also sealed 12 filling stations, including an NNPC mega station for hoarding the product.
The team, led by Daniel Atama, however, met stiff resistance at Stanel Service Station which set its meter at N145 but was not dispensing, in spite of the long queues of motorists who had waited for over 24 hours.
The DPR efforts to get the owners of the station to sell proved abortive as the manager said he would only sell at whenever he wished and would not take orders from DPR.
Atama subsequently placed a seal order on the station for hoarding the products but an official of the station pulled the seal off immediately and threw it away right before the DPR team.
The DPR agents, however, left the station to avoid a brewing crisis.
But reacting to the development, Chris Orage, General Manager of the station said he did not remove the seal placed by the DPR.
Orage said the station had limited products and was trying to manage the queue.
He denied defying the DPR orders because the station enjoyed support from some highly placed people in Anambra government.
At an NNPC mega station, the entrance was closed while motorists waited patiently for them to start dispensing.
The DPR, however, entered the station and demanded that the underground tank be dipped to check if the product was available.
The DPR sealed the station when the attendants refused to obey the instruction after which the manager was called on phone and directed that the officials be allowed to check if the product was available.
However, it was discovered that about N12,000 litres of petrol was available and DPR also ordered instant dispensing of the product.
One of the motorists at the mega station, Innocent Uzor, said they were patiently waiting because the station usually sold at night.
“We are here because we know they have fuel and they sell at N145, they usually sell at night.
“We thank the DPR for this enforcement, these marketers just make us suffer, may be because it is Christmas,” he said.
Customers at ARCON filling Station, Unizik junction, NIPCO Amawbia and other stations were jubilant as the marketers were made to revert prices from between N200 and N220 to the normal price of N145 per litre.
Atama warned that the exercise would be a continuous one and that unscrupulous marketers should stop fleecing the public as there was no increase in the cost of petrol.
But the Managing Director of ARCON, whose outfit was also sealed for allegedly reverting to N200 after the DPR officials left, said it was impossible for them to sell at N145 because the landing cost was much more than that.
The MD, who did not disclose his name, said he would rather have his station sealed than sell at a loss.
Motorists in Lagos Friday lauded the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for its intervention by compelling petrol dealers hoarding the product to dispense to motorists.
They gave the commendation during the inspection tour of DPR officials led by Mr Musa Tambawal, the Head of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, to some filling stations in Lagos and its environs.
Some of the filling stations visited by DPR team included Mobil and MRS filling stations in Victoria Island, MRS, Ascon, Oando and Conoil on Muritala Muhammed Way in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
The DPR officials had in the wake of scarcity of petrol embarked on monitoring and enforcement visit to some filling stations in the state.
Some of the motorists, who spoke with NAN, expressed gratitude to the management of DPR for compelling the dealers in all filling stations to dispense the product to motorists.
In his comments, Mr Wale Adeyemi, a commercial bus driver, alleged, “the filling stations in this area had in the last three days refused to sell fuel in their underground tanks.
“These stations only opened to buyers who came with jerry cans in the evening hours and sold the product to them at exorbitant price.
“The presence of DPR officials here has changed things for us, otherwise, they would not sell the product to us. We were forced to journey to Apapa everyday to get the product,” Adeyemi said.
Another motorist, Mrs Chinyere Okoro, said that a friend informed her of the presence of DPR in the filling station, which encouraged her to leave her to come to the station.
“I urge the regulators to constantly be on guard against the nefarious and fraudulent acts of these marketers and dealers, who often hoard the product.
“These stations would have shut their gates immediately after the inspection visit of DPR officials,
“This dealers and marketers are not fair to the masses, who are desperately in need of petrol for their daily activities,” Okoro said.
Tambawal, while reacting, called on marketers to shun this illicit act of hoarding petrol or face penalties.
According to him, there are lots of insinuations that filling stations are refusing to sell petrol to motorists and other users of this product.
“As you can see, some stations are storing more than the minimum dead stock level. Dead stock is the level at which the product can no longer be dispensed.
“We are going to ensure that Nigerians are not defrauded. It is also important for us to manage the supply to ensure that it gets to our consumers.
“If we find any station engaging in sharp practices, the arm of the law will be used on the defaulter,” Tambawal said.
In Edo State, the government in collaboration with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) commenced monitoring of petrol stations in the state and has vowed to prosecute marketers found to be hoarding the products.
In a statement signed by Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state explained that the exercise is to ensure that the products allocated to Edo State are dispensed to buyers at the official pump prices and save the people the hardship they suffer in the hands of shylock marketers.
According to the statement, “Edo State has been sufficiently supplied with petroleum products and received a fresh 465,000 litres this weekend, in addition to the 296,000 litres loaded to the state on Tuesday this week.”
“Motorists and other users of petroleum products should refrain from panic buying that causes unnecessary queues at petrol stations and traffic congestion on major roads in the state.
“Marketers are hereby warned to ensure judicious dispensing of allocated products as government will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute any erring marketer,” the statement said.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, some residents have resorted to trekking long distances due to the scarcity petrol and the high transport fares.
This is as a result of the nationwide scarcity of petrol which goes between N150 and 250 in some parts of the ancient city.
It was observed that hundred of commuters trekking long distance due to scarcity of vehicles and commercial motorcycles in many parts of the city.
Many bus stops within the city are currently flooded with commuters who were stranded as they waited endlessly to no avail.
Transport fare that goes for N100 from Mokola to Ojoo is now between 200 and 250. The one from Gate to UI is now N150-N200 instead of N100. From Ajibode Junction to Ojoo is now N50 instead of N20.
This, according to some commuters, made those with the ability, to trek through such areas as Ajibode, Apete, UI, Ojoo, Secretariat, Ogunpa, Dugbe and Mokola among others.
Many filling stations that were partially selling the product on Tuesday and Wednesday were under lock on Thursday and Friday.
Those that were selling did so between N150 and N 250 per litre.
A resident of Ologun-Eru lamented on Friday that some of the petrol stations selling the product in his area were selling between N150 and N185 per litre.
The scarcity has also afforded some youths in areas such as Mokola, Sabo and Ajibode to turn the situation in making brick business by selling 4-5 litres of Petrol at the rate of N1500- N3000 depending on the bargaining power of the prospective buyer.
A resident of Ajibode who begged not to be mentioned informed that he had spent many hours at a petrol station on Thursday to no avail but had to go out as early as 6.am to search for the product.
Another resident of Ibadan noted that though the petrol is still sell at the normal price in his area, but it will take one about 5 hours before he can get the product.
He said: “They are still selling at the normal price of N140. But it is a very long queue, you will spend up to five hours before you get it.
“But those selling black market, they sell four litres for N1500.
A cross section of our respondents appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the persistent problem.
Latest reports from Anambra State indicate that the situation has worsened as customers now pay between N250 and N300 per litre in the state.
Most filling stations in Awka and its environs had the product but refused to dispense.
However, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) monitoring and enforcing the situation, compelled marketers to sell the product at the government regulated price of N145 per litre
The team, which came from Enugu Office, also sealed 12 filling stations, including an NNPC mega station for hoarding the product.
The team, led by Daniel Atama, however, met stiff resistance at Stanel Service Station which set its meter at N145 but was not dispensing, in spite of the long queues of motorists who had waited for over 24 hours.
The DPR efforts to get the owners of the station to sell proved abortive as the manager said he would only sell at whenever he wished and would not take orders from DPR.
Atama subsequently placed a seal order on the station for hoarding the products but an official of the station pulled the seal off immediately and threw it away right before the DPR team.
The DPR agents, however, left the station to avoid a brewing crisis.
But reacting to the development, Chris Orage, General Manager of the station said he did not remove the seal placed by the DPR.
Orage said the station had limited products and was trying to manage the queue.
He denied defying the DPR orders because the station enjoyed support from some highly placed people in Anambra government.
At an NNPC mega station, the entrance was closed while motorists waited patiently for them to start dispensing.
The DPR, however, entered the station and demanded that the underground tank be dipped to check if the product was available.
The DPR sealed the station when the attendants refused to obey the instruction after which the manager was called on phone and directed that the officials be allowed to check if the product was available.
However, it was discovered that about N12,000 litres of petrol was available and DPR also ordered instant dispensing of the product.
One of the motorists at the mega station, Innocent Uzor, said they were patiently waiting because the station usually sold at night.
“We are here because we know they have fuel and they sell at N145, they usually sell at night.
“We thank the DPR for this enforcement, these marketers just make us suffer, may be because it is Christmas,” he said.
Customers at ARCON filling Station, Unizik junction, NIPCO Amawbia and other stations were jubilant as the marketers were made to revert prices from between N200 and N220 to the normal price of N145 per litre.
Atama warned that the exercise would be a continuous one and that unscrupulous marketers should stop fleecing the public as there was no increase in the cost of petrol.
But the Managing Director of ARCON, whose outfit was also sealed for allegedly reverting to N200 after the DPR officials left, said it was impossible for them to sell at N145 because the landing cost was much more than that.
The MD, who did not disclose his name, said he would rather have his station sealed than sell at a loss.
Motorists in Lagos Friday lauded the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for its intervention by compelling petrol dealers hoarding the product to dispense to motorists.
They gave the commendation during the inspection tour of DPR officials led by Mr Musa Tambawal, the Head of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, to some filling stations in Lagos and its environs.
Some of the filling stations visited by DPR team included Mobil and MRS filling stations in Victoria Island, MRS, Ascon, Oando and Conoil on Muritala Muhammed Way in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
The DPR officials had in the wake of scarcity of petrol embarked on monitoring and enforcement visit to some filling stations in the state.
Some of the motorists, who spoke with NAN, expressed gratitude to the management of DPR for compelling the dealers in all filling stations to dispense the product to motorists.
In his comments, Mr Wale Adeyemi, a commercial bus driver, alleged, “the filling stations in this area had in the last three days refused to sell fuel in their underground tanks.
“These stations only opened to buyers who came with jerry cans in the evening hours and sold the product to them at exorbitant price.
“The presence of DPR officials here has changed things for us, otherwise, they would not sell the product to us. We were forced to journey to Apapa everyday to get the product,” Adeyemi said.
Another motorist, Mrs Chinyere Okoro, said that a friend informed her of the presence of DPR in the filling station, which encouraged her to leave her to come to the station.
“I urge the regulators to constantly be on guard against the nefarious and fraudulent acts of these marketers and dealers, who often hoard the product.
“These stations would have shut their gates immediately after the inspection visit of DPR officials,
“This dealers and marketers are not fair to the masses, who are desperately in need of petrol for their daily activities,” Okoro said.
Tambawal, while reacting, called on marketers to shun this illicit act of hoarding petrol or face penalties.
According to him, there are lots of insinuations that filling stations are refusing to sell petrol to motorists and other users of this product.
“As you can see, some stations are storing more than the minimum dead stock level. Dead stock is the level at which the product can no longer be dispensed.
“We are going to ensure that Nigerians are not defrauded. It is also important for us to manage the supply to ensure that it gets to our consumers.
“If we find any station engaging in sharp practices, the arm of the law will be used on the defaulter,” Tambawal said.
In Edo State, the government in collaboration with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) commenced monitoring of petrol stations in the state and has vowed to prosecute marketers found to be hoarding the products.
In a statement signed by Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state explained that the exercise is to ensure that the products allocated to Edo State are dispensed to buyers at the official pump prices and save the people the hardship they suffer in the hands of shylock marketers.
According to the statement, “Edo State has been sufficiently supplied with petroleum products and received a fresh 465,000 litres this weekend, in addition to the 296,000 litres loaded to the state on Tuesday this week.”
“Motorists and other users of petroleum products should refrain from panic buying that causes unnecessary queues at petrol stations and traffic congestion on major roads in the state.
“Marketers are hereby warned to ensure judicious dispensing of allocated products as government will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute any erring marketer,” the statement said.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, some residents have resorted to trekking long distances due to the scarcity petrol and the high transport fares.
This is as a result of the nationwide scarcity of petrol which goes between N150 and 250 in some parts of the ancient city.
It was observed that hundred of commuters trekking long distance due to scarcity of vehicles and commercial motorcycles in many parts of the city.
Many bus stops within the city are currently flooded with commuters who were stranded as they waited endlessly to no avail.
Transport fare that goes for N100 from Mokola to Ojoo is now between 200 and 250. The one from Gate to UI is now N150-N200 instead of N100. From Ajibode Junction to Ojoo is now N50 instead of N20.
This, according to some commuters, made those with the ability, to trek through such areas as Ajibode, Apete, UI, Ojoo, Secretariat, Ogunpa, Dugbe and Mokola among others.
Many filling stations that were partially selling the product on Tuesday and Wednesday were under lock on Thursday and Friday.
Those that were selling did so between N150 and N 250 per litre.
A resident of Ologun-Eru lamented on Friday that some of the petrol stations selling the product in his area were selling between N150 and N185 per litre.
The scarcity has also afforded some youths in areas such as Mokola, Sabo and Ajibode to turn the situation in making brick business by selling 4-5 litres of Petrol at the rate of N1500- N3000 depending on the bargaining power of the prospective buyer.
A resident of Ajibode who begged not to be mentioned informed that he had spent many hours at a petrol station on Thursday to no avail but had to go out as early as 6.am to search for the product.
Another resident of Ibadan noted that though the petrol is still sell at the normal price in his area, but it will take one about 5 hours before he can get the product.
He said: “They are still selling at the normal price of N140. But it is a very long queue, you will spend up to five hours before you get it.
“But those selling black market, they sell four litres for N1500.
A cross section of our respondents appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the persistent problem.
Latest reports from Anambra State indicate that the situation has worsened as customers now pay between N250 and N300 per litre in the state.
Most filling stations in Awka and its environs had the product but refused to dispense.
However, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) monitoring and enforcing the situation, compelled marketers to sell the product at the government regulated price of N145 per litre
The team, which came from Enugu Office, also sealed 12 filling stations, including an NNPC mega station for hoarding the product.
The team, led by Daniel Atama, however, met stiff resistance at Stanel Service Station which set its meter at N145 but was not dispensing, in spite of the long queues of motorists who had waited for over 24 hours.
The DPR efforts to get the owners of the station to sell proved abortive as the manager said he would only sell at whenever he wished and would not take orders from DPR.
Atama subsequently placed a seal order on the station for hoarding the products but an official of the station pulled the seal off immediately and threw it away right before the DPR team.
The DPR agents, however, left the station to avoid a brewing crisis.
But reacting to the development, Chris Orage, General Manager of the station said he did not remove the seal placed by the DPR.
Orage said the station had limited products and was trying to manage the queue.
He denied defying the DPR orders because the station enjoyed support from some highly placed people in Anambra government.
At an NNPC mega station, the entrance was closed while motorists waited patiently for them to start dispensing.
The DPR, however, entered the station and demanded that the underground tank be dipped to check if the product was available.
The DPR sealed the station when the attendants refused to obey the instruction after which the manager was called on phone and directed that the officials be allowed to check if the product was available.
However, it was discovered that about N12,000 litres of petrol was available and DPR also ordered instant dispensing of the product.
One of the motorists at the mega station, Innocent Uzor, said they were patiently waiting because the station usually sold at night.
“We are here because we know they have fuel and they sell at N145, they usually sell at night.
“We thank the DPR for this enforcement, these marketers just make us suffer, may be because it is Christmas,” he said.
Customers at ARCON filling Station, Unizik junction, NIPCO Amawbia and other stations were jubilant as the marketers were made to revert prices from between N200 and N220 to the normal price of N145 per litre.
Atama warned that the exercise would be a continuous one and that unscrupulous marketers should stop fleecing the public as there was no increase in the cost of petrol.
But the Managing Director of ARCON, whose outfit was also sealed for allegedly reverting to N200 after the DPR officials left, said it was impossible for them to sell at N145 because the landing cost was much more than that.
The MD, who did not disclose his name, said he would rather have his station sealed than sell at a loss.
Motorists in Lagos Friday lauded the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for its intervention by compelling petrol dealers hoarding the product to dispense to motorists.
They gave the commendation during the inspection tour of DPR officials led by Mr Musa Tambawal, the Head of Operations, Lagos Zonal Office, to some filling stations in Lagos and its environs.
Some of the filling stations visited by DPR team included Mobil and MRS filling stations in Victoria Island, MRS, Ascon, Oando and Conoil on Muritala Muhammed Way in Ebute-Meta, Lagos.
The DPR officials had in the wake of scarcity of petrol embarked on monitoring and enforcement visit to some filling stations in the state.
Some of the motorists, who spoke with NAN, expressed gratitude to the management of DPR for compelling the dealers in all filling stations to dispense the product to motorists.
In his comments, Mr Wale Adeyemi, a commercial bus driver, alleged, “the filling stations in this area had in the last three days refused to sell fuel in their underground tanks.
“These stations only opened to buyers who came with jerry cans in the evening hours and sold the product to them at exorbitant price.
“The presence of DPR officials here has changed things for us, otherwise, they would not sell the product to us. We were forced to journey to Apapa everyday to get the product,” Adeyemi said.
Another motorist, Mrs Chinyere Okoro, said that a friend informed her of the presence of DPR in the filling station, which encouraged her to leave her to come to the station.
“I urge the regulators to constantly be on guard against the nefarious and fraudulent acts of these marketers and dealers, who often hoard the product.
“These stations would have shut their gates immediately after the inspection visit of DPR officials,
“This dealers and marketers are not fair to the masses, who are desperately in need of petrol for their daily activities,” Okoro said.
Tambawal, while reacting, called on marketers to shun this illicit act of hoarding petrol or face penalties.
According to him, there are lots of insinuations that filling stations are refusing to sell petrol to motorists and other users of this product.
“As you can see, some stations are storing more than the minimum dead stock level. Dead stock is the level at which the product can no longer be dispensed.
“We are going to ensure that Nigerians are not defrauded. It is also important for us to manage the supply to ensure that it gets to our consumers.
“If we find any station engaging in sharp practices, the arm of the law will be used on the defaulter,” Tambawal said.
In Edo State, the government in collaboration with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) commenced monitoring of petrol stations in the state and has vowed to prosecute marketers found to be hoarding the products.
In a statement signed by Secretary to the Edo State Government (SSG), Osarodion Ogie Esq., the state explained that the exercise is to ensure that the products allocated to Edo State are dispensed to buyers at the official pump prices and save the people the hardship they suffer in the hands of shylock marketers.
According to the statement, “Edo State has been sufficiently supplied with petroleum products and received a fresh 465,000 litres this weekend, in addition to the 296,000 litres loaded to the state on Tuesday this week.”
“Motorists and other users of petroleum products should refrain from panic buying that causes unnecessary queues at petrol stations and traffic congestion on major roads in the state.
“Marketers are hereby warned to ensure judicious dispensing of allocated products as government will not hesitate to apprehend and prosecute any erring marketer,” the statement said.
In Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, some residents have resorted to trekking long distances due to the scarcity petrol and the high transport fares.
This is as a result of the nationwide scarcity of petrol which goes between N150 and 250 in some parts of the ancient city.
It was observed that hundred of commuters trekking long distance due to scarcity of vehicles and commercial motorcycles in many parts of the city.
Many bus stops within the city are currently flooded with commuters who were stranded as they waited endlessly to no avail.
Transport fare that goes for N100 from Mokola to Ojoo is now between 200 and 250. The one from Gate to UI is now N150-N200 instead of N100. From Ajibode Junction to Ojoo is now N50 instead of N20.
This, according to some commuters, made those with the ability, to trek through such areas as Ajibode, Apete, UI, Ojoo, Secretariat, Ogunpa, Dugbe and Mokola among others.
Many filling stations that were partially selling the product on Tuesday and Wednesday were under lock on Thursday and Friday.
Those that were selling did so between N150 and N 250 per litre.
A resident of Ologun-Eru lamented on Friday that some of the petrol stations selling the product in his area were selling between N150 and N185 per litre.
The scarcity has also afforded some youths in areas such as Mokola, Sabo and Ajibode to turn the situation in making brick business by selling 4-5 litres of Petrol at the rate of N1500- N3000 depending on the bargaining power of the prospective buyer.
A resident of Ajibode who begged not to be mentioned informed that he had spent many hours at a petrol station on Thursday to no avail but had to go out as early as 6.am to search for the product.
Another resident of Ibadan noted that though the petrol is still sell at the normal price in his area, but it will take one about 5 hours before he can get the product.
He said: “They are still selling at the normal price of N140. But it is a very long queue, you will spend up to five hours before you get it.
“But those selling black market, they sell four litres for N1500.
A cross section of our respondents appealed to the government to find a lasting solution to the persistent problem.
Latest reports from Anambra State indicate that the situation has worsened as customers now pay between N250 and N300 per litre in the state.
Most filling stations in Awka and its environs had the product but refused to dispense.
However, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) monitoring and enforcing the situation, compelled marketers to sell the product at the government regulated price of N145 per litre
The team, which came from Enugu Office, also sealed 12 filling stations, including an NNPC mega station for hoarding the product.
The team, led by Daniel Atama, however, met stiff resistance at Stanel Service Station which set its meter at N145 but was not dispensing, in spite of the long queues of motorists who had waited for over 24 hours.
The DPR efforts to get the owners of the station to sell proved abortive as the manager said he would only sell at whenever he wished and would not take orders from DPR.
Atama subsequently placed a seal order on the station for hoarding the products but an official of the station pulled the seal off immediately and threw it away right before the DPR team.
The DPR agents, however, left the station to avoid a brewing crisis.
But reacting to the development, Chris Orage, General Manager of the station said he did not remove the seal placed by the DPR.
Orage said the station had limited products and was trying to manage the queue.
He denied defying the DPR orders because the station enjoyed support from some highly placed people in Anambra government.
At an NNPC mega station, the entrance was closed while motorists waited patiently for them to start dispensing.
The DPR, however, entered the station and demanded that the underground tank be dipped to check if the product was available.
The DPR sealed the station when the attendants refused to obey the instruction after which the manager was called on phone and directed that the officials be allowed to check if the product was available.
However, it was discovered that about N12,000 litres of petrol was available and DPR also ordered instant dispensing of the product.
One of the motorists at the mega station, Innocent Uzor, said they were patiently waiting because the station usually sold at night.
“We are here because we know they have fuel and they sell at N145, they usually sell at night.
“We thank the DPR for this enforcement, these marketers just make us suffer, may be because it is Christmas,” he said.
Customers at ARCON filling Station, Unizik junction, NIPCO Amawbia and other stations were jubilant as the marketers were made to revert prices from between N200 and N220 to the normal price of N145 per litre.
Atama warned that the exercise would be a continuous one and that unscrupulous marketers should stop fleecing the public as there was no increase in the cost of petrol.
But the Managing Director of ARCON, whose outfit was also sealed for allegedly reverting to N200 after the DPR officials left, said it was impossible for them to sell at N145 because the landing cost was much more than that.
The MD, who did not disclose his name, said he would rather have his station sealed than sell at a loss.