Long queue surfaced in many filling stations in Akure, the Ondo State capital and other parts of the state following the hike in price of petrol by the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
This led to paralysis of economic and social activities following persistent fuel scarcity, as many residents of the town are stranded across major roads while the roads were deserted.
Motorists and motorcyclists could not get the product forcing a few of them operating to jerk up the fare.
Many residents who spoke with New Telegraph described the situation as unbearable and called on the Nigerian government to urgently do something before the situation gets out of control.
Most of the filling stations have stopped dispensing fuel while few stations selling Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), known as petrol, to motorists were jam-packed with vehicles and motorcycles.
Some of the fuel stations selling fuel experienced long queues with motorists struggling to buy the products even as the product sell above N500 per liter.
Many of the fuel stations sell between N580 and N650 per liter while most of the fuel station closed for business immediately the new fuel price was announced by the NNPC.
The situation was similar in Okitipupa, Ore, Ondo, Owo, Idanre, Ikare Akoko and most of the major cities and towns in the state.
In one of the Petrol Station located along Akure-Owo road, most of the fuel stations were closed while one of the stations dispensing fuel was filled motorists blocking the with long queue the road, hindering free flow of traffic on the ever busy road.
One of the stations said they have been selling the product at N505 this morning before a directive from the headquarters.
His words “we have been attending to customers this morning until few minutes before ten when there was a directive that we should stop dispensing fuel.
“We have to sent the situation report to the headquarters immediately and took the pictures of the pump. I can confirm to you that we have fuel but the order is that we must stop dispensing until further directive from our boss.”
In another fuel station along Oba-Ile area of Akure, fuel was still dispensed at qN510 in the morning but as at the time of filing this report, the station dispensed at N600.
Some of the motorists lamented the increase in the price of fuel saying it was a deliberate attempt to further frustrate Nigerians.
A commercial motorcyclist, Sola Adebowale said “this is becoming frustrating because i don’t know how our business will not collapse.
I got here over an hour ago after I had driven around Akure in search of petrol. Most filling stations closed following the new price introduced today.”
