Residents groan as fuel crisis worsens in FCT

Though the fuel crisis, which surfaced across major cities last month has subsided in some states, residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) are yet to see relief as the situation continues to worsen.

Residents, who spoke with The Guardian said the situation is now unbearable as businesses are suffocating under loss of man-hour and money.

Indeed, the supply gap, which left long queues and heavy traffic deadlock across the city may be connected to product diversion by marketers for more gains, an insider at the Suleja deport has revealed.

The source said products meant for the FCT are being diverted to neighbouring states, where marketers are sure of selling at higher prices.

A resident, who is Chief Executive Officer of Amco Travels, Muhammed Ahmed, said the prevailing fuel crisis has added to losses by his organisation, worsening the operating business environment in the capital city.

“This fuel problem has made the situation worst. We rely on black market to fuel our operation.”

The Executive Secretary of Depot and Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA), Olufemi Adewole, said product supply by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has suffered set back.

According to him, though the NNPC had programmed some of the members in recent weeks, there has been reduction in the supply as attention is shifted to major marketers.

The major retail outlet belonging to the NNPC, and other stations along Kubwa expressway and Wuse as well as Jabi and Garki areas of the city had long queues, while illegal vendors hawked the products for N300 per litre across major routes.

Vice President, Independent Petrol Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Maigani Shettima, said the state of the road, especially in Mokwa, Niger State was affecting the supply gap.