With the announcement yesterday of subsidy removal by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, some petroleum stations have suspended sales in Rivers State.
Tribune Online checks around Port Harcourt City and Obio/Akpor local government areas of the state showed that shortly after the statement, several petrol stations stopped selling products to motorists.
At about 4 pm Monday most of the stations that now litter all corners of the two local government areas closed shops leaving people wondering what was happening.
The whole picture became clearer and more serious Tuesday morning when hordes of workers, students and business people were seen stranded at various bus stops waiting for elusive vehicles to board to their different destinations.
Around Eneka-Igwuruta Road a stretch of about 3-5km hosting uncountable petrol stations, including major and independent marketers, only one station was seen in the Atali area selling the product with long queue of vehicles already lined up as early as 7:30 am.
Besides, the premium motor spirit which was sold at N220/litre was at the station on Sunday, and on Tuesday morning was at N400/litre.
People were full of complaints about the development with some regretting having themselves caught up in the mess.
David Onyeneke, an educationist who spoke to our correspondent blamed himself for the condition he found himself regretting not getting more fuel on Sunday when he had the opportunity to fill his car’s petrol tank.
“I didn’t know this was going to happen, how can they (marketers) stop selling fuel? What President Tinubu yesterday say was not new. We were already preparing for the end of the subsidy. That he made reference to it doesn’t mean that the subsidy removal has been already effected otherwise he would have given details,” he stated.
He further said; “I don’t also think the President was right to delve into the subsidy as part of his first official statement since the outgone President Buhari had said the subsidy removal would be effective in June, well the June is already here with us, the suffering just continues for hapless Nigerians.”
Many commuters also expressed concern that with the action of the petrol marketers, transporters would soon jack up their fares and another season of pain will set in for Nigerians.
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