Scarcity: Massive queues re-appear at filling stations in FCT

(Nigeria) Massive queues have resurfaced in filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja, after few days of relief.

A survey conducted by NAN on Thursday showed that most filling stations had queues which stretched over two kilometres.

Some of the petrol stations on the Kubwa Expressway which had long queues of vehicles waiting to buy fuel were AA Rano, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC Mega Station, MRS, Bulsalewa, Conoil and Mobil.

Other fuel stations in the Central Area with long queues were Mobil, Conoil, NNPC outlets, Forte Oil, Total, among others.

Mr Emeka Ifedikachi, express regret over the non-availability of petrol, saying it was unfortunate that government had yet to fix the problem of the supply of petroleum products.

`` I read in the papers that the problem will not end till May, which means all the things they have been saying to us were not true.

``I have to queue to fill up my tank because from tomorrow, I have many activities to mark the Easter holidays. It is obvious that many people will sleep and celebrate their Easter queuing to buy fuel,’’ he said.

Another customer at the NNPC mega station, Mr Yusuf Ahmed, said that he had been on the queue for over an hour.

``I have been on queue since the last one hour but the good thing is that they are selling; I hope that I will buy soon. I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to bring change to this sector, we are suffering,’’ he said.

Also, Margaret John, a Business woman expressed disappointment with government’s announcement that the problem would linger till May.

``So, we now have to create time for buying fuel in our cars, I have to close my shop every time I come to buy fuel and it is money that I am losing,’’ she said

The NNPC had assured Nigerians that it was doing everything possible to end the fuel queues in parts of the country.

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr Ibe Kachikwu, said that the corporation had activated all structures to ensure sanitisation of the fuel supply and distribution matrix.

He said the step would help to stabilise the situation in the weeks ahead.

He apologised to Nigerians for the recent hardship in assessing petroleum products and assured of normalisation of the fuel supply and distribution in the weeks ahead.