Fuel scarcity worsens in Imo

By Chidi Nkwopara

OWERRI—The scarcity of petroleum products in Imo State is becoming more acute as motorists now spend several hours at filling stations in their bid to make purchases.

Vanguard investigations at the weekend revealed that virtually all the major and some independent petroleum marketers claimed they had run out of premium motor spirit (PMS), kerosene and diesel.

Some of the staff found on the premises of the filling stations visited were seen chatting  and laughing but none accepted to speak to Vanguard on the issue.

The story did not equally change for the better Monday morning, as the queue at the mega station operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), stretched up to Maria Assumpta Catholic Cathedral, Owerri.

The pump price of PMS in some independent filling stations had since risen to between N80 and N85 per litre, while transport fares had commensurately risen in line with the prevailing but unauthorized price regime.

A taxi operator in Owerri, who identified himself simply as Reginald, lamented that the situation was even worse in the rural local government areas of the state.

“Apart from the unreasonable hike of pump price, no motorist is even sure of the products. No government official has so far given any explanation on the matter and this is most regrettable,” Reginald said.