By Patrick Obuoha
Fuel scarcity is biting harder in Abuja and its environs as long queues of vehicles dotted many filling stations across the federation.
In Lagos and in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) residents are seen trekking from one place to the other looking for fuel, even as queues have returned to some petrol stations.
However, he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which blamed the scarcity on the EndSARS protests said the long queues would disappear at filling stations later on Tuesday.
The corporation’s spokesman Dr. Kennie Obateru said many fuel marketers are now getting the product and the scarcity would soon fizzle out.
Observation in Abuja early on Tuesday showed that there were disorders at few filling stations selling the Petrol Motor Spirit (PMS).
At NNPC retail station at Central Area, Abuja, motorists struggled to get access to the station as only a small gate was opened to allow a car at a time into the premises.
It was a similar situation at Total Filling station at Area 11 where black marketers have taken over with a little higher price.
A 4L can of petrol was sold between N1000 and N1200 by the black marketers.
Similarly, at Rano filling station at Jabi, rowdy situation was noticed by our reporter.
The situation wasn’t different at NIPCO filling station also at Jabi, in Abuja.
The EndSARS protests which started peacefully later turned violent as hoodlums set ablaze police stations and looted shops.
It even took a drastic turn when warehouses housing COVID-19 palliatives were burgled and looted.
The Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN) declined comment on the scarcity.