Izuchukwu Okosi
Following the subsisting fuel scarcity, alleged formation of cartels and rationing of petrol sales by product marketers, residents in some parts of Lagos State say the situation is abating.
Prime Business Africa on Saturday visited a few petrol stations and made inquiries from those who bought fuel from other locations.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelIt was gathered that many petrol stations sold the premium spirit (fuel) for between N200 and N350.
That was the case at the OPIC Estate, Agbara-Lusada road area of Ogun state, about 30 minutes drive away from Agbara bus-stop.
Many commercial bike operators confirmed that they bought fuel at N200 but had one complaint.
READ ALSO: Black Marketers Continue To Cash Out As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder
“The queues are much in some petrol stations. They seem to have preferential treatment for some people.
“Those in cars are attended to first before you that came with a bike or jerry-can,” a commercial ‘okada’ rider by name simply as Celestine told Prime Business Africa.
“My husband is an Okada man but in our neighborhood. We had to resort to selling black market to make ends meet.
“We found it to be very profitable selling this so that those around would come to patronize us instead of going far distances,” Joyce, a local restaurant owner in the Igere suburb of Agbara-Lusada road told Prime Business Africa on Saturday evening.
READ ALSO: Black Marketers Continue To Cash Out As Fuel Scarcity Bites Harder
The middle-aged woman confirmed that her husband sells fuel in the black market at N450.
However, Prime Business Africa scooped from an avid reader of the news website residing at Egbeda in Alimosho Local Government Area that black market fuel prices range between N300 and N350 while they buy from the petrol stations at the rate of N250.
Some residents of the Badagry area of Lagos who spoke on the condition of anonymity, claimed that they have not been having regular power supply from Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).
A visitor in the area from Surulere, Lagos confirmed that there is fuel supply available to fuel stations in that part of Lagos.
“There is fuel. What I have experienced myself is the queue but fuel dey,” he said.
Izuchukwu Okosi is a Nigerian sports and entertainment journalist with two decades of experience in the media industry having begun his media journey in 2002 as an intern at Mundial Sports International (MSI) and Africa Independent Television (AIT), owners of Daar Communications Plc.
