By Nahum Sule (Taraba State Correspondent, in Jalingo)
For almost a week now, residents of Taraba state have witnessed a long queue of cars and tricycles (Keke) waiting to get PMS in their tanks due to the scarcity of the commodity in Jalingo even though the NNPC is insisting that it has enough supply for the end-of-the-year demand.
NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent confirmed from some of the marketers who alleged that the long queue at the filling stations is associated with the ‘Ember’ months which has now resurfaced, as vehicle owners, especially those whose cars use the product, were forced to spend hours to get fuel from the few major marketers who are dispensing at the official pump price of N185 per litre.
It was observed that only the NNPC filling station is open, as other major marketers and several independent marketers barely open their filling stations to dispense the product, a situation that has already sent fears of an imminent scarcity in people considering the present high cost of living in the country.
At the NNPC mega station along Mile six road in Jalingo, motorists and motorcycle riders were seen in the queue waiting for their turn to get the quantity of the PMS they needed for a few days to come, not knowing how long the scarcity is going to last.
Rimandeyati Solomon who was in the queue wondered the reason behind fuel scarcity at the end of every year. She said it could be a deliberate move to make uneasy the celebration of the yuletide period for Christians and other people who have something to do during the period.
Also Hajiya Aisha Raiyanu, said that she had spent close to one hour in the queue before she got the tank of her Toyota Camry car filled. She said that the yearly scarcity of PMS should be checked by concerned authorities in order to reduce the stress Nigerians are going through at present.
When contacted, the Manager of the station said that the filling station has enough PMS to sell to the customers, adding that he was expecting more supply from the depot.
When asked what could be the cause of the scarcity, he said that he doesn't know the full reason behind the scarcity but just got to the station and noticed that a queue was building up in the station.
When NIGERIAN NEWSLEADER Correspondent visited the Taraba state office of DPR, the coordinator was said to have gone round to monitor the situation to ensure that it did not get out of control. But an officer who did not want his name in print, however, re-assured us that there is no cause for alarm as NNPC has enough PMS to go through the year.
Meanwhile, black markets have resurfaced across the metropolis, as urchins are seen displaying the products in jerrycans and selling in 4 litre gallons between N1,700 to N2000 per gallon to desperate people who could not wait on the queue for a long time. NNL.
