By Gabriel Enogholase

BENIN—AS the effect of the scarcity of petroleum products bites harder in Edo State, long queues of vehicles and traffic of anxious buyers of the products in jerry cans, have characterized petrol stations in Benin City, Edo State, and its environ.

Vanguard investigations indicated that virtually all the filling stations on the busy Akpakpava Road were closed for business, following scarcity of the products.

However, Con Oil filling station on the road was seen dispensing fuel with only two dispensing pumps to long queues of vehicles, just as anxious buyers with jerry cans clustered round the dispensing pumps.

It was also observed that the few dealers selling the products cashed in on the scarcity to adjust their fuel pumps to between N100 and N110 per litre and consequently, this has raised inter-city fares by over 100 percent.

At Ugbowo axis of the city, where the University of Benin is located, only few filling stations were opened to motorists, as travellers groaned over the abnormal increase in the pump price of the product.

The situation at the Upper Sakponba Road axis in Benin City was not different as some dealers were more interested in selling the product into jerry cans at higher cost.

Meanwhile, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Benin depot, Mr. Douglas Iyike, said there was no cause for alarm, as most marketers have resolved to buy the products from Lagos or Port Harcourt.

Iyike, who expressed hope that the products would be available soon, said major marketers have continued to buy the product from private depots.