Motorists groan as petrol sells for N120 in Oyo State

Motorists in Iseyin council of Oyo State on Wednesday complained about the continued rise in the price of petrol in the area.

Some of them who spoke with NAN in separate interviews bemoaned the situation, saying that the development had led to low patronage from commuters.

Bambi Sangotikun said that low patronage from commuters due to increase in pump price of petrol had forced him to park his vehicle till the situation was sorted.

“Even me, I can’t pay N50 from here to barrack or N70 from Customs to Kara area, but what can we do when filling stations are selling at N120 per litre.

“People prefer to trek or even stay at home than paying high transport fare.

“It is obvious that the situation is forcing us out of jobs; we appeal to the appropriate authorities to see to it; we can’t do without fuel in Nigeria,“ he said.

Saheed Adebayo, also a commercial driver, said that petrol marketers were deliberately hoarding the product for selfish reasons.

“People are very unpatriotic in this country; NNPC said it released the same quantity of fuel as it did in January, so why the scarcity for God’s sake.

“It is very difficult for me to see any reason for this scarcity and exorbitant price they are selling per litre now.

“I think a special task force needs to come in here and compel petrol stations to sell at the normal rate; this situation is highly unbearable,“ he lamented.

Oluwashina Oduola, a 37-year-old teacher, said there was need for government to urgently intervene on the matter, adding that “people want to give government bad name through artificial scarcity.

“It is high time the government came out to deal with all these agents of darkness decisively; when the president announced reduction, people wanted to increase through back doors; it’s not fair, “ he said.

NAN reports that most filling stations claimed not to have fuel while few that have the product sell between N100 and N120 per litre.

At Mobil, Iseyin-Ibadan Road, queues stretched for more than two kilometres to buy at N100 per litre.

At Isale Oja and Isalu areas, stations without names were dispensing petrol at N120 with few vehicles sighted at the places.

Officials at the stations declined comments, saying they had no such power to speak on the situation.