With only four days to the celebration of Christmas, the hardship being faced by motorists, motorcycle owners, artisans and other categories of Nigerians in getting petrol became stiffer in Osogbo, capital of Osun
on Thursday as long queues caused traffic gridlock in the metropolis.
Findings by the Nigerian Tribune indicated that many were still struggling and almost engaging in fisticuffs at the dispensing sections of few petrol stations selling the product to customers, the majority of who had been on the queue, waiting to fill their car’s tank with fuel as early as 7.00 a.m.
The rowdy situation was exacerbated by some people, who had thronged the few filling stations along Gbongan-Ibadan road with jerry cans to buy the product.
Two of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) sales outlets around Ogo Oluwa, Osogbo were besieged by motorists and commercial motorcyclists, with a view to buying the product at N143 per litre.
Other independent marketers locked up their fuel stations, saying they had run out of stock.
But, credible sources in other communities in Osun, such as Ikirun, Ada, Ilesa, Inisa, Ile-Ife, Sekona informed our correspondent that few of the petrol marketers in those areas were dispensing fuel to motorists at varied prices of N170, N180, N200 per litre.
A motorist, who spoke to our correspondent under the condition of anonymity said it was imperative for President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to find the last solution to the recurring problem of fuel scarcity, more so as Nigerians were planning to celebrate Christmas and New Year in few days time.
Another private car owner, Mrs Aderounmu Zainab lamented that “I am fed up and I don’t know if I would get fuel in this station because I have been on this queue since 10.30 a.m. and up till now, we are still at the same spot. Some people were using their influence to buy petrol when they are not in the queue, it is sad. Our government should help us to mitigate this suffering. This is unfair.”