Fuel Scarcity, Long Queue Persist in Sagamu Filling Stations

In the early hours of Wednesday, 11th January 2023, most filling stations in Sagamu claimed not to have fuel for purchase and the few stations with fuel are witnessing long queues from motorists, residents, and car owners.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited is selling Premium Motor Spirit, popularly called petrol, at a loss because of its mandate from the Federal Government as regards PMS subsidy, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Chief Timipre Sylva, said on Monday.

The scarcity of fuel has been attached to the new subsidy policy pronounced by the government. A statement by the minister of state for petroleum resources reads “The management of the supply situation under this subsidy regime is not easy. We must all agree that so much money is being burnt in our cars, but somehow we have to put funds to continue to keep the country wet.

“Sometimes if you really think deeply you begin to wonder what magic we are doing to be able to keep this country wet consistently. Considering that you buy something, let’s say for N10, and you are to sell it at a loss.

“And then you are expected to go back to buy the same thing, and come back again to sell it at a loss. So at every point in time, you are looking for more money to continue to buy it, because you’re mandated to sell it at a loss.”

Sylva added, “And then you are expected to go back to buy the same thing and come back again to sell it at a loss. So at every point in time, you are looking for more money to continue to buy it because you’re mandated to sell it at a loss.”

“So if you are a businessman, look at it from this perspective, that you are now in the business where you are mandated to sell at a loss to the public. That is not an easy job, I must tell you.” So if you are a businessman, look at it from this perspective, that you are now in the business where you are mandated to sell at a loss to the public. That is not an easy job, I must tell you” he added.

Residents and commercial drivers in Sagamu are pleading with the government to do something urgently about this as they believe it will affect their livelihood if not controlled.