Fuel scarcity reports have emerged following the suspension of fuel supply to filling stations in areas surrounding the country’s borders. Petrol has turned to modern-day gold. The liquid commodity reportedly sells for N600 per litre as it has become really scarce.
This is the impact of the directive issued by Hameed Ali, the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) to stop the supply of all Petroleum products to fuel stations within 20 kilometres of the borders, in a bid to stop smugglers from unlawful transportation of good into the country.
However, Investigative reports have revealed that this directive has had a ricochet effect with a hike in fuel prices as high as N600 per litre.
According to The Punch, many filling stations have been shut down and the few who are open for business are too far. They have taken advantage of the situation by selling the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) for N600 per litre.
Areas affected by the Fuel scarcity are Ilase, Ihunbo, Idiroko, Ajegunleand Agosasa in the Ipokia Local Government Area of Ogun State.
A resident who spoke to newsmen expressed their anger to the Government for inflicting hardship on the innocent citizens who are not even guilty of smuggling.
“Can you imagine buying a litre of fuel at the rate of N600? Before we can get fuel for N145 in Ipokia, we will need to go to Owode, which is 28 kilometres away. We don’t know what we can do to survive.
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“Before the Federal Government’s order, they (security agents) used to take bribes from marketers before allowing them to export fuel to Benin Republic. Now that the Federal Government has stopped supply of fuel supply to border communities, we are the ones suffering. Artisans, even medical personnel, are the ones suffering.