Long queues have resurfaced in most fuel stations in Osogbo, the Osun State capital, three days after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu announced the suspension of the fuel subsidy regime.
Vehicle owners were seen frantically scrambling for available spaces at some petrol stations while panic buying.
This is despite the Osun State Government’s warning to marketers not to use Premium Motor Spirit, PMS.
The government revealed that it had credible information that some petroleum marketers were planning to stockpile the product, calling such behaviour unpatriotic and sabotage.
Read Also: Sen Tofowomo honoures Adepoju as Acting Comptroller General of Immigration
It also stated that the Special Monitoring Team on fuel scarcity was still active and would not hesitate to use its authority.
President Tinubu announced the suspension of the fuel subsidy regime during his inauguration on Monday.
Tinubu claimed that he was removing the regime because it was no longer viable in Nigeria at the time.
According to reports, operatives from the Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR, temporarily closed down Oduoye fuel station Fakunle Area on Tuesday for attempting to sell fuel above N250.
It took customer intervention for the DPR to open the station and allow for business.
Long lines were also seen at fuel stations such as Adolak and Matrix on the Gbongan-Ibadan road in Osogbo.
Jamiu Mohammed, a customer, stated that most of the fuel stations he visited sold petrol intermittently.
“I noticed that they will sell fuel and then stop to await further instructions from their bosses.”
“Customers were simply going from one fuel station to the next looking for the product, which is what caused panic buying among buyers,” he explained.
Wasiu Akintunde, a commercial transporter, revealed that he had no choice but to join his colleagues in the queue to buy petrol for his vehicle.
Read Also: HURIWA requests Tinubu release Kanu, restructure security architectur
“Most of my colleagues are standing in lines at gas stations, hoping to get the commodity at the official price before it rises.”
“All we ask is a reprieve whenever the fuel subsidy is removed.” “We don’t want any more hardship than we already have,” he said.
Steven Adeleke stated that he was rushing to get petrol for his vehicle in order to beat the expected increase in pump price.
“It’s going to get worse. When it does, at least I’ll have some quantity available for use before I feel the impact, positive or negative,” he explained.
