Fuel stations in Katsina metropolis have been taken over by long queues as scarcity of the product continues to worry motorists and other fuel users in the state.
21st CENTURY CHRONICLE reporter went round the metropolis and nearby communities in Batagarawa, Rimi, Kaita and Mani local government areas and found out that most of the fuel stations in the areas are locked while those opened are filled by motorists and other petrol users.
The only stations with fuel as at the time of the survey were Dan Marna, A. A Rano, Shema, Nanaco, Oando and NNPC all in the metropolis.
Motorists spend hours on queues
A local journalist, Abdurrazaq Ibrahim Kafin Soli, said he abandoned his desk at a radio station to join the queue.
“When I came here in the morning around 7am, I thought I came early but I met several people who slept here. As you can see, the level of scarcity is alarming because there is no single station that is not filled to the brim.”
A motorist, Sani Samaila told 21st CENTURY CHRONICLE thus, “My main challenges are the scarcity of the fuel and the long queues that are in every of the fuel stations in the metropolis. I’ve spent two hours here but it seems the line (queue) is not even moving. I’ve sat in this Keke (tricycle) for two hours waiting for the queue to reach me” he said.
One of those seen at Nanaco Nig Limited who gave his name as Shafiu said, he was not sure whether he would get the product because only three pumps are dispensing fuel.
“You can see for yourself. I’ve been here and I’m not even sure whether I can get it (fuel)”
While most of the motorists expressed optimism, some of them accused stations of hoarding the products.
Mustapha Usman has been on queue since 6am and he said the scarcity would have been averted if fuel stations owners didn’t hoard the product.
“We know for sure that most of the fuel stations that have closed did that to compound our problems. They have it (fuel) and we know because they will open the stations for three to four hours then close for the day only to reopen for another three to four hours tomorrow. If they don’t have it, why do they offer skeletal service?”
Another commercial tricyclist, Babawo Murtala, said he slept on queue at Shema Petroleum on WTC round about but he was yet to get into the station.
“My tricycle is on hire purchase; I can’t afford not to work for a day but I’ve wasted yesterday on the queue and will possibly waste today here. The painful thing is that they’re many people who come and because they’re big men, the station’s attendants will just open the gate for them. But we’ll stay and buy it no matter what.”
NMDRA reacts
Meanwhile, the acting Comptroller of the Katsina office of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority (formerly DPR) Yahaya Ibrahim said there are many reasons for the scarcity.
“Most of the Petroleum marketers are in financial criris even before the fuel scarcity issue. Because motorists were getting fuel in other fuel stations, they hardly noticed the problem. This current fuel scarcity is not only peculiar to Katsina state,” he said
He also said the Petroleum marketers in the state don’t buy the product in bulk.
“I can say that Katsina is among the states were marketers don’t buy fuel in bulk because in Katsina, I can say on average, they hardly buy 10 to 12 fuel tanker in a day. Don’t forget that we’ve 34 local government areas, so the fuel supply is not appreciative”
When asked if the authority had received any complain on fuel hoarding, he told 21 CENTURY CHRONICLE that”we’ve not heard about that. And my staff have been working round the clock, checking fuel stations to see if there is any case of hoarding and we’ve not found anything so far.”
