The price of premium motor spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol has continued to rise above the regulated price of N145, as scarcity bites harder across the country.
The dire situation has forced motorists to resort to buying products from the black markets that have sprouted everywhere and mostly near filling stations.
Before the current round of scarcity, which began a few weeks ago, many independent marketers had started selling at N150 per litre.
Only filling stations operated by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), are selling within the regulated price.
The fuel situation in Akwa Ibom appears to be worse as a litre now sells between N200 – N250.
Even the NNPC mega station in Uyo, the state capital is said to be selling above the fixed pump price of N143.
Observers say the state is worst hit because it has not fuel deport and the closest tank farm is located in Calabar, the capital city of Cross River State, where residents are also grappling with the product scarcity.
The Calabar tank farm, however, has a capacity of 51,000 metric tonnes and the quantity is grossly inadequate for consumers in the two states especially with many tourists moving into the area for Christmas festivities.
As at Saturday night, there were strong indications many commuters were likely to spend more during Christmas period as the price of petrol will continue to increase by the day.
In Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, our correspondent said the situation is dire as many motorists spend the night queuing at filling stations.
Apart from the NNPC Mega Station in Zone 1 that has been selling almost 24 hours and N143 per litre, the majority of stations owned by major and independent marketers have not been selling products for days.
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At the Total filling station adjacent to the Force Headquarters, queues extend over several kilometres while hundreds of hawkers flood the street, selling the scare product at exorbitant prices.
A 25-litre jerry can of petrol sells for N7, 500 which is equivalent of N300 per litre, motorists still struggle to buy.
In Jos, the Plateau State capital, only a few filling stations have supplies and a litre sells between N180 – N200.
However, major highways in the city have been taken over by petrol hawkers who sell the product between N250 per litre to N300.
The same situation persists in Yola, the Adamawa State capital, where only the NNPC mega station along Bank Road is selling at the approved price of N143.
Most of the filling stations that have products sell for between N180 –N200 per litre with motorists still queuing for hours to buy.
While the government has not been able to end the lingering scarcity, its top officials have issued conflicting reasons for the crisis.
The Minister of State for Petroleum, Ibe Kachikwu, at a press briefing in Abuja early in the month blamed the fuel crisis on the gap in the supply of petroleum products.
His position, however, contradicted that of the Minister for Information and Culture, Lai Mohamed.
Mr. Mohammed had shortly after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday, blamed the fuel scarcity on demand by nations in temperate regions.
“This is winter period. There is always more demand for refined products from petroleum during winter in the colder countries. This is what we are experiencing now,” said the minister.
