Aside from the general economic crises Nigerians are currently facing, residents of Akwa Ibom, an oil producing state in the country are in worse condition following the fuel scarcity in the state.
Filling stations in Uyo metropolis apart from NNPC mega stations and Trans Sossa have shut down operations in compliance with the directives of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association, IPMAN, for fear of being fined N300,000.
A litre of fuel at the black market currently goes for N1,500 which has made minibus and tricycle drivers to charge N200 for a drop in a short distance that used to be N100 as of two days ago.
The increase in local transportation has immediately skyrocketed the prices of food stuff in the market.
IPMAN in a statement signed by the Chairman and the Secretary on Sunday said the decision to suspend operations was taken after a stakeholders meeting.
The union also blamed a series of “infractions into their businesses caused by the activities of Natural Oil and Gas Suppliers Association (NOGASA) where members’ products were impounded on the road and extorted.”
The statement directed members to close stations and outlets from the public effective Monday April 22, 2024, adding that any non compliance would attract a fine of N300,000 which it said would be enforced.
Checks in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital revealed that many of the service stations did not open on Sunday making few that opened sell their products at N800 litre as against the current price of N700 per litre.
But on Monday, no private filling station opened for services which made the queue at the few government owned filling stations unimaginable.
The check further showed that though the price of petrol is said to have been slashed in some parts of the country, the strike has worsened the current situation in Akwa Ibom State.
Meanwhile, the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association Of Nigeria (PETROAN) has urged members to go about their businesses.
Udeme Esset, state chairman of the group said the association would release their enforcement team from today to monitor the operations of the retail outlets and report to the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
It urged the state government to take necessary actions against those stopping petrol tankers on the road therefore causing unnecessary traffic and endangering the residents in an event of a possible accident or explosion from any of the inflammable petroleum tankers impounded.
Reacting to the ugly development, Governor Umo Eno said he has directed the Commissioner for Internal Security to liaise with the coordinator of Ibom Community watch, a government owned security outfit and out security outfits to mount surveillance at the borders to checkmate the unscrupulous elements from carrying out their evil intentions.
According to the governor, ‘there is fake news in circulation from an unknown group saying they want to withdraw their service of fuel delivery in Akwa Ibom State, we have contacted the original and authentic group who have since countered that announcement.
“In the wake of the prevailing hardship in the country, if any group believes it can constitute themselves into a nuisance and create additional hardship for the people of Akwa Ibom, we will confront that group.”
