Fuel scarcity hits Port Harcourt, long queues persist

THE problem of fuel scarcity, which became obvious on Friday, in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital has continued to persist.The fuel crisis, which The Guardian gathered, resulted from shortage of supply of petroleum products has brought long queues in filling stations across the state, while black marketers continued to have a field day.Some of the filling stations visited especially the NNPC mega stations, Oando, AP and Total were dispensingpetrol at the official rate of N65 per litre but very long queues were witnessed at the stations.The independent marketers, The Guardian noticed, were selling a litre of fuel for N80 to N100.The black market operators were seen parading various jerry cans filled with fuel for prospective buyers. For them 20 litres was going for N6, 500, while 10 litres sold for N4, 000.Some other stations visited were closed down with the excuse that they had no product to dispense.The situation brought serious pains to the commuters. Some commercial motorists, having spent hours to get fuel, increased the transport fare with about 20 per cent.A bus driver, Mr. Efiong Ikong alleged that the situation might not be unconnected with the Federal Government's planned removal of fuel subsidy.While urging the Federal Government tourgently address the situation, he pointed out that President Goodluck Jonathan was disappointing those who voted him into office.In his reaction, the Head Retail Outlet and Marketing, Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Port Harcourt Zone, Mr. Abdulahi Isah explained that the problem was due to supply and demand disequilibrium.He disclosed that there was shortage in supply which made the marketers become scared and thereby began to hoard the few products available.'The problem of fuel scarcity in Port Harcourt is about supply and demand, there was shortage in supply and people became scared and started hoarding the product,' he said.Isah, while assuring that the problem would be a thing of the past in two days time, pointed out that the Pipeline Products Marketing Company (PPMC) loaded 90 trucks on Monday, which were discharged.He noted that if products were available, problems of diversion, hoarding, adulteration would not be an issue.Isah, who spoke recently during the 2011 yearly marketers meeting with DPR in Port Harcourt, added that stability in supply needed the efforts of marketers and PPMC.
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