Fuel Scarcity: Osogbo residents lament hike in transport fare
… as NMDPRA threatens to sanction any marketer hoarding fuel
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
Fuel scarcity has caused an increment in transport fare within Osogbo, the Osun State capital.
Commercial motorcyclists who used to charge between N150 and N250 for a drop now charge between N200 and N500 depending on the distance.
Residents have lamented the hike in transport fare, accusing the fuel marketers of hoarding fuel in their tanks.
Passengers are stranded at the bus stop and some had to trek to get to their destinations because many of the commercial vehicles are queued at the filling stations.
Westernpost gathered that many filling stations are no longer dispensing the product while there are long queues at the few stations that are operating in Osogbo.
Few filling stations that were opened are selling petrol between N800 to N900 per litre.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in the State has warned petroleum marketers in the state against hoarding of the product.
The agency also warned residents against panic buying, hoarding and storing of petroleum products at home.
The state coordinator of the agency, Mr. Adekunle Adeyemo gave the warning in Osogbo on Monday.
Adeyemo said that the surveillance team of the agency would be all out to ensure that no filling stations hoard the product and that any marketers caught hoarding the fuel or engage in any form of sharp practices would be dealt with accordingly.
He noted that while government is doing everything possible to ensure adequate availability of the product, It will be inhuman for those who have the product to be hoarding and inflating the pump price.
The NMDPRA boss also warned against storing petroleum products at home , adding that such can cause a fire outbreak.
He said, ” The department is pleading with people to shun panic buying and storage of petroleum products in their houses.
“Storing of petroleum product at home can result in a fire outbreak, which can lead to the destruction of lives and property.
“We have to be wise, there’s no reason for panic buying or hoarding of the product because government is doing everything possible towards adequate supply of the product.”
