FUEL SCARCITY PERSISTS AS DSS 48 HOURS ULTIMATUM ELAPSES

Forty-eight hours after the expiration of the ultimatum by the Department of State Services (DSS) to stakeholders in the oil sector, petrol scarcity has persisted in Plateau, Kaduna, Kogi and Kano states, and other parts of the country.

The DSS, at a meeting with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Major Oil Marketers Association of Nigeria (MOMAN), Depot and Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (DAPMAN) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) on Thursday, gave the stakeholders a 48-hour ultimatum to end the fuel scarcity to avert incitement or security breach in the country.

However on Monday long queues were still observed in major cities, making black marketers have a field day, selling the commodity for as much as N350 per litre.

Marketers said only market forces could improve the situation along with strong supply and price control mechanisms.

The chairman, Northern Independent Petroleum Marketers Forum, Musa Yahaya Maikifi, said the private depot price was above N200, prompting marketers to sell above the rate in Kano and other states.

Reacting to the DSS’ ultimatum, Maikifi said it was a good step towards resolving the situation.