Following the announcement of fuel subsidy removal by President Bola Tinubu in his inaugural speech on Monday, fuel queues have returned to filling stations in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, and Ilorin metropolis.
NIGERIAN ANCHOR observed that since Monday evening, only few stations were selling fuel with long queues.
On Tuesday morning, long queues were seen at the NNPC filling station along the Kubwa Expressway. Other filling stations like Emadeb along Banex area also had queues while Rano and Shema filling station were not dispensing.
Many filling stations in the Lugbe area of Abuja sold petrol at prices ranging between N194 and N198. Outside Abuja, residents said fuel stations sold petrol for N230.
On Tuesday morning, a long queue of motorists was observed at the NNPC filling station along Airport Road, Lugbe, according to reports.
In Ilorin filling stations were selling at their different rates, but some were shut down.
Some motorists who spoke to NIGERIAN ANCHOR however said they had envisaged the scarcity of fuel, hence the panic-buying.
Mr Paul Chinaka said he would not have the time to go round in search of fuel later in the day, so he was ready to join the long queue to buy before mid-morning.
Another customer, Mr Iliya Badmos, said the stations were out to exploit the customers as they have started hoarding their products.
”That is the reason why I decided to refill my tank today, so that I will not suffer searching for fuel around when the filling stations start their artificial scarcity,” he said.
For another motorist, Emmanuel Gana, the announcement by Tinubu was a good one but he has to put measures in place to make sure that ordinary Nigerians do not feel it too much.
“This fuel subsidy issue has lingered for too long. If we must speak frankly, what the new President, Bola Tinubu said yesterday is a step in the right direction. His predecessor could not have the balls to remove it so they passed it to him.
“We all know the scam behind the fuel subsidy imbroglio so ending it is welcome. What I expect the new president to do now is to issue directives on how to cushion the effect his pronouncement will cause. Already, you can see that filling station owners are saboteurs who are out to make their own money.
“Just like the DSS did last time when they forced filling stations to sell their fuel, the government should do so again and force them to sell because they’re already trying to sabotage and over-heat the polity by hoarding their products,” he said.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu said on Monday during his inaugural speech, that fuel subsidy favoured only the rich.
“We commend the decision of the outgoing administration in phasing out the petrol subsidy regime which has increasingly favoured the rich more than the poor.
“Subsidy can no longer justify its ever-increasing costs in the wake of drying resources. We shall instead re-channel the funds into better investment in public infrastructure, education, health care and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions,” Tinubu said.
