Fuel: Black Market Thrives In Kwara, Oyo

The worsening fuel scarcity has increased the activities of illegal petrol sellers, otherwise called black market, in Ilorin and environs of Kwara State. Our correspondent who monitored the development in Ilorin, the Kwara State metropolis on Saturday observed that business was booming for the illegal petrol sellers around Post Office Area, Railway Area, and Eyinkero. It was observed that the illegal petrol sellers now sell a jerry can of petrol which previously sold at N3,000 for N6,000. There were
very long queues of motorists and buyers in a few petrol stations that were still selling petrol in Ilorin. Also frustrated buyers sat down at some of the filling stations that were not selling in the hope that they could start selling. The scarcity of fuel paved way for light traffic on most of the roads in the state capital as many car owners either stayed indoors or did not go out with their cars. Transport fares have also risen to between 75 per cent and 100 per cent depending on the passengers’ bargaining power. Many commuters and motorists decried the attendant hardship and called on the appropriate government agencies to quickly address the situation. Meanwhile, the fuel scarcity has resulted in a sharp increase in pump price of the product in Iseyin Council Area of Oyo, from the official price of N87 per litre to N250. A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday indicated that while most of the filling stations in the town were closed due to non-availability of the product, few that had it sell from N240 to N250 per litre. Some motorists, who spoke with NAN in separate interviews, described the development as “unfortunate”, saying government should find a lasting solution to the problem. One of them, Olorunwa Emmanuel, said he spent over four hours at a filing station to buy the product at exorbitant price. Another vehicle owner, Saburi Ikotun, said he hoped that the marketers would start importing the product since the Federal Government had announced that it had settled their entitlements.
Punch