Long Queues In Jos As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder

Long queues have returned to filling stations in Jos, the Plateau State capital and its environs following a scarcity of petroleum products, forcing most motorists in the city to express concern.

Some of the motorists, who spoke with reporters in Jos on Wednesday also alleged that some petrol marketers increased the price of petrol.

Black marketers of the product are also having a field day, selling a litre of fuel at N300-N400 in many parts of Jos city.

Many motorists were forced to patronise them as the unpalatable alternative was to wait for hours in filling stations.

A visit to the Dogon Karfe community observed that a gallon of fuel now sells for 1,500 by black marketers of the product.

Amid long queues and waiting hours in Jos, some filling stations sold a litre of the Premium Motor Spirit at N250/litre as against the approved price of N180-N185/litre.

A taxi driver who gave his name as Bulus at the old airport junction said, “Black marketers sell four  litres at N1,500, this has forced us to increase the price of transport fares."

At Abbatoir, a black market dealer who gave his name as Titus Marcus said that a gallon of fuel goes for 1,500 naira.

"Getting the product is very difficult for us, I can not sell it for less than this price", he added.

A tour around Jos on Wednesday morning revealed that along Yakubu Gowon way only three out of over 15 petrol stations around that axis sold petrol to motorists and other consumers as they said they did not have petrol.