Makurdi, Benue State – Long queues have unexpectedly reappeared at petrol stations in parts of Makurdi, the capital of Benue State.
Only a few stations are dispensing Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as fuel, and prices range from N400 to N500 per litre.
This development comes in the wake of President Bola Tinubu’s announcement on Monday that the era of fuel subsidy is over.
A visit to filling stations in the town on Tuesday revealed that, apart from the NNPC Mega Station on Old Otukpo Road, where the product is still sold for less than N200 per litre, other stations have abruptly raised their pump prices.
At the NNPC Mega Station, a chaotic scene unfolded as motorists and commercial motorcycle operators took over the busy Makurdi-Aliade highway in a desperate attempt to secure fuel.
This created difficulties for other motorists using that section of the road.
While the pump price of fuel varied across different filling stations, the few that sold at lower prices, such as Ronald Nyim and Ashafa, witnessed long queues of motorists patiently waiting to purchase the product.
However, none of the major marketers in the town had any fuel to sell, leaving desperate motorists to move from one filling station to another in search of the commodity.
Consequently, commercial vehicle and motorcycle operators have increased their fares by more than 100 percent.
A bus driver expressed his frustration, stating, “The President’s sudden pronouncement that there will be no more fuel subsidy from June 2023, due to the lack of budgetary provision, has thrown our sector into confusion. This is not how a new government should start. We have been plunged into another period of long queues and fuel scarcity because of what the President said. It seems like they want to deliberately punish Nigerians.”
It was reported that the Benue State branch of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) allegedly called for an emergency meeting with its members to address the situation.
However, the outcome of the meeting has not been disclosed to the public.
When approached for comments, Mr. Athanasius Iyausu, the State Chairman of IPMAN, directed reporters to the Federal Government and President Tinubu.
