Federal government to suspend fuel supply to filling station situated in katsina within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land border, THISDAY checks have revealed that fuel scarcity has hit border towns in Katsina State. Investigations have also revealed that the scarcity has led to a rise in the price of premium motor spirit (PMS) from N145 to N250 in towns contiguous with the Niger Republic, accounting for an increase of about 40 percent.
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This was uncovered yesterday when our correspondent visited some of the border towns to assess the effect of the order that restricted fuel supply to filling stations within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land border.
During the visit, THISDAY checks uncovered that the directive of the federal government had resulted in fuel scarcity in Daddara, Nasarawa,Tsayau, Magaman, Jibia, Makada and Dan Arau communities.
Findings revealed that the order stoked fuel scarcity and hike in the prices of petroleum products at Jibia and Kongolam border towns between Nigeria and Niger Republic.
Some of the filling stations shut by theFederal Government task force include Afdin Petroleum Services Limited, Coil Oil, A.Yau Moba Nigeria Limited, B.H Maidingi Ventures, Lolo Dakare Nigeria Limited, Fulani Yarima Petroleum Limited and Danyaro General Enterprises.
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Some residents of the border towns, who spoke with THISDAY, lamented an undue increase in fuel pump price following the suspension of fuel supply to areas within 20 kilometres to the nation’s land borders.
Sule Safiyanu, one of the locals of Magaman Jibia, said the federal government’s action was affecting the economic growth of the country and the livelihood of the citizens.
“As you can see, all the petrol stations in this town are closed down by the men of the Nigeria Customs Service. Before, we can get fuel for N145 per litre but now, it is N200 or N250. The worst aspect of it is that we cannot even get the product to buy,” he said.
Another resident, Faroq Tijani, said: “Now that the federal government has stopped the supply of fuel to border communities, we are the ones suffering. How can we survive? We cannot travel again for lack of fuel. We travel as far as Katsina to get fuel for our vehicles and machines.”
The Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Hameed Ali, had directed that no petroleum products should be supplied to any filling station within 20 kilometres to the country’s borders.