The lingering fuel crisis across Nigeria is biting harder in Kwara State, Arogidigba Global Journal reports.
A credible source at TotalEnegies outlet in Ilorin, the state capital, who requested anonymity, said: “We have been in Lagos now since last week and there is no supply of petrol. The depot in Lagos is empty and several petrol tankers are on the queue ready to load, but there is no hope of getting petrol, because there is no stock to supply them with fuel. Since demand is higher than supply, there must be consequences.”
Another source blamed the development on the delay by the Dangote Refinery to commence production of petrol, as the NNPC, which hitherto was the sole importer of petrol, has stopped importation in readiness for Dangote Refinery to start production and supply of the product to the public.
Commuters in Ilorin found themselves at the mercy of commercial transporters, who have hiked transport fares for short- and long-distance destinations.
While roadside fuel dealers now sell a litre of petrol at between N1,000 and N1,400, a few fuel stations dispensing to members of the public sell it at between N850 and N1,000 per litre, depending, on the location.
Arogidigba Global Journal learnt that officials of the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, may move out tomorrow, Monday, to ensure compliance with the official pump price of petrol by independent marketers in the state capital.
While long queues persist at fuel stations with stock, commuters remain stranded for long hours on major roads in the state capital due to the fuel crisis, which has reduced the number of commercial transporters on the highways as the search for fuel continues.