Economic and social activities in SokotoSokoto metropolis have been brought to a standstill as fuel scarcity persists, despite the suspension of the three-day strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
A visit to several parts of the city on Friday and Saturday showed that most filling stations remained shut, while the few that were open sold petrol at inflated prices ranging from ₦960 to ₦970 per litre.
Even the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) retail outlets — about seven of them within the metropolis — were not dispensing fuel, worsening the hardship faced by motorists and residents.
On the black market, petrol now goes for as high as ₦1,250 per litre, or ₦6,000 for a four-litre gallon, as desperate motorists turn to roadside vendors to keep their vehicles running.
One motorist, Mallam Abba Umar, accused petrol marketers of hoarding fuel to exploit residents.
“Most of these marketers are wicked. They have fuel but refuse to sell during the day. They only open at night and sell between ₦960 and ₦970 per litre. It’s unfair. The government needs to step in and save us,” Umar said.
Another resident, Mrs. Rukayyat Bello, who had been on a long queue at a filling station along Gusau Road, said the scarcity had made daily living unbearable.
“Transport fares have doubled, and market prices are increasing every day because of this. Ordinary people are finding it very hard to survive,” she lamented.
The current scarcity began shortly after the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) threatened to embark on strike over unresolved issues with the Federal Government. Although the strike was eventually called off, PENGASSAN went ahead with a three-day industrial action, disrupting fuel distribution across the country.
Read Also;
FG moves to avert fuel supply crisis, assures stability
Despite the suspension of the strike, normal supply is yet to return in many parts of Sokoto.
Findings revealed that some marketers now prefer to sell secretly to black market operators, who resell at exorbitant rates, making huge profits while residents suffer.
As a result, major roads in Sokoto have become unusually quiet, with many motorists parking their vehicles due to lack of fuel. Residents are now appealing to both the state government and relevant federal agencies to intervene urgently and restore normal fuel supply.
