Awka—Residents of Awka have pleaded with Anambra State government to assist them secure kerosene, which has become scarce and expensive in the area. The appeal was sequel to the residents’ difficulties in recent times over the purchase of the product.

Most residents rose early every day to join endless queues at the NNPC retailing outlets, which sold the product at the official price of N50 per litre. Independent marketers, which sold at higher prices were hardly patronised by the buyers.

Mr Ikedife Abuchi, said at the NNPC station that he had risen up as early as 6.30 a.m. to join the queue for sales which hardly started before 9 a.m. “I am here on time to be sure the kerosene gets to me today. I have been coming since Sunday but before it gets to me, they will stop selling. I hope it will get to my turn today,” he hoped.

Mrs Nkemdili Okoye, a housewife, said the situation had become hard with the approach of Christmas, saying hopes of getting the essential commodity looked bleak. Okoye called on the state government to keep its promise to make kerosene available in the state.

“I came in here at about 8 a.m. and it is now noon and I am still waiting for my turn,” she lamented. According to her, if the product is available and affordable in all petrol stations, people will buy it anywhere.

Mrs Ngozi Onyiliofor, an official of the NNPC, said there was no hoarding of the product and that it was available in good quantity to meet consumers’ needs.