Hoarding, increase in pump price hit Delta

Amid an uncertain atmosphere, residents in major towns of Delta State, on Saturday, woke up confronted with fear, hoarding and an increase in pump price of petrol.

As early as 8:00 a.m when Sunday Tribune headed to filling stations along Warri – Sapele road, queues of vehicles and kegs had emerged at Total Filling Station near Hausa Quarters.

It was gathered that the cause of the queue was not the absence of petrol, but a mechanical hitch with the generating plant of the gas station. But in no time, it was repaired and normal sales began at the normal price of N145 per litre.

However, this was not the case with every other gas stations in that axis of the town, such as Forte Oil, Mobil, among others, which did not open to customers at all, citing non-availability of PMS.

Stranded buyers alleged hoarding of the product as the reason for their refusal to sell.

Checks at gas stations in Sapele and Ughelli as of 3:30 p.m revealed the pump price of petrol had been jacked up to N150 per litre.

Long queues had reportedly emerged at gas stations in Ughelli while others were said to be hoarding the product.

In Asaba, the state capital, the situation is said to be normal with neither queues nor hike in pump price in filling stations visited in the metropolis.

Meanwhile, commercial activities across the oil-rich state are ongoing unhindered, but intra and inner-city transporters have begun to slightly jack up fares as of the time of filing the report.