Fuel attendants have been accused of encouraging the sale of black market fuel following the return of long fuel scarcity and long queues at filling stations across the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
The black marketers have taken advantage of the fuel scarcity in the vicinity of the Federal Capital City to do brisk business.
Despite the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s (NNPC) assurances of adequate fuel in December, Abuja has seen long lines, increasing business for black marketers.
While motorists groan in filling stations due to a lack of fuel, our correspondent observed black marketers clustering around filling stations and openly displaying fuels in jerry cans in an attempt to attract customers. They are, however, looking for security personnel.
Remember how the NNPC assured that it has two billion liters of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) in stock, allaying concerns about fuel scarcity during the Yuletide season?
Adeyemi Adetunji, Executive Vice President, Downstream, NNPC Limited, stated that the company has enough fuel to last for more than 30 days.
Officials are currently monitoring massive loading from the depot to various destinations, he said, adding that the NNPC has programmed vessels and trucks to unconstrained depots.
Fuel attendants at an NNPC filling station in Abuja’s Guzape area were selling the product to black marketers.
It was discovered that NNPC employees sell to black marketers at a rate of N179 per litre, with an additional N1000 paid for every 25 litres.
A motorist named Peter Shima expressed concern that sales to black marketers were negatively impacting motorists.
“NNPC fuel attendants sell petrol at 179 per litre, while black marketers around the station sell at 350,” he told DAILY POST. They sell to these black marketers at the standard rate, but for every 25-liter jerry can, they collect an additional N1000.”
A black marketer who simply identified himself as Musa confirmed this claim, saying he buys the product from a filling station for N300 and resells it for N400 per liter.
“Filling stations now sell to us black marketers at N300, but if you want to buy at N190, you will not get it.”
“We end up reselling to the public at N350 – N400,” he explained.
Our correspondent noted that the renewed scarcity of fuel had resulted in an increase in the cost of transportation, as well as goods and services.
