No respite in Delta, as petrol goes for N250 per litre

Vendors Adulterate Petrol With Hot Water

There is still no respite for Deltans as the lingering fuel scarcity in Delta State which took a turn for the worse a few weeks ago is yet to abate as a litre of the scarce commodity presently goes for N250.

The perennial scarcity seems to have taken a heavy toll on motorists and commercial activities in the state capital of Asaba as most of the retail outlets have since ran out of stock while the few ones that have sold at exorbitant price.

Most of the major retail outlets on the main streets of Nnebisi Road, Dennis Osabebey, Summit Road and Ibusa Road did not have the precious liquid as motorists are welcome with the sign “Sorry No Fuel” boldly written on cardboard papers and conspicuously placed at corners of the retail outlets, which were under lock and key.

With the exception of Rainoil Filling Station on Okpanam Road where it is being sold for N140 and at the NNPC Mega station on the Benin-Asaba expressway, a litre of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), which officially goes for N87 a litre presently sells for between N210 and N250 as a result of the renewed scarcity which is gradually grinding business activities in the state to a halt.

Against the backdrop of the biting scarcity, most motorists now result to the notorious black market, which has mushroomed along the main streets. There a litre of petrol which most times is adulterated with hot water sells for as high as N500.

The situation at Rainoil, an independent marketer which sold for N140 a litre, was however chaotic following the long lines of vehicles at the retail outlet as anxious motorists struggled to buy the scarce liquid in the blazing sun.

On the busy Asaba – Benin Expressway, there was no line of motorists at the NNPC Mega Station on the outskirts of Asaba, where the price of the scarce liquid was the official amount of N87 a litre

The renewed scarcity has since affected transport fares in Asaba as commercial tri-cyclists popularly called Keke and taxis have increased their fares.

The transport fare in either a taxi or tri-cyclist from Summit to Ogbeogonogo Market which before now was N50 has since doubled to N100, while a commuter will have to cough out N120 for a trip from Summit to Cable instead of the erstwhile fare of N60.

Also, the two hours journey from Asaba to the oil city of Warri, which as formally N800 is now N1, 200. With the high cost of transportation, which skyrocketed as result of the stinging scarcity, the prices of essential commodities have since shot up.