Residents of Osogbo, the Osun State capital have begun to feel the pain of scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) popularly called petrol, which has engulfed some parts of the country since last week.
Our reporter, who went round the metropolis over the weekend observed that majority of the filling stations were under lock and key, while there were heavy queues at the few stations who opened for business.
As at Saturday morning, only about three filling stations were seen selling the p[roduct along the popular Gbongan-Osogbo road, out of over 20 fuel stations along the axis.
A manager in one of the fuel stations, who pleaded anonymity confided in our reporter, saying there was a resolution among marketers in the state to stop selling fuel pending the time the rift between petroleum marketers and the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) would be resolved.
Also, a motorist at a filling station along Osogbo-Iwo road, who identified himself as Sadiq Hameed lamented the level of suffering the scarcity has caused motorists in the town.
He accused petroleum marketers of hoarding petroleum product in anticipation of a jack up in the price.
“These marketers are not being fair to motorists, they have the product in abudance, and decided to hoard it for selfish reasons.
“I think they are trying too create artificial scarcity purposely to increase price as we approach the yuletide”.
DAILY POST gathered that the rift between Petroleum marketers and NNPC was hinged on the shortage of supply and disagreement over ex-depot price.
Meanwhile, NNPC has denied any move to increase the prices of petroleum products both at the ex-depot level and pump price ahead of the yuletide.
NNPC, in a statement on Monday, December 4 reiterated the fact that the ex-depot petrol price of N133.38 per litre and the pump price of N143/N145 per litre had not changed.
It also added that it has enough stock to ensure adequate supply and distribution of the product across the country
The corporation ‘s spokesman, Ndu Ughamadu, however advised motorists not to engage in panic buying or indulge in the dangerous practice of stocking petroleum products in jerry cans at home.
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