Fire fighters putting off fire on a building in Ibadan, recently.

A litre of petrol now costs N200 or more per litre in the black market.
Desperate users of the product who could not buy from the filling stations due to the scarcity hitting many cities of Nigeria, including Port Harcourt, now have no option than to buy from the black markets.
“Since one can’t find any to buy from the filling stations, the only alternative is to buy from the black market,” said Clarice Chinonye.
Chinonye who runs a hotel in Port Harcourt lamented that the cost of providing services to customers has increased and the only way was to make do with what is available.
Joseph Atali, a taxi driver, confirmed that black market has become the only way out. “You can’t expect me to go to filling stations and spend all the precious hours without even buying at last,” Atali said, adding that he only operates during peak hours when he is sure that he can recover the high cost of the fuel he spent on.
“But why is it that the product is available at the black market and not in the filling stations,” asked Atali.
Black Amadi, one of the black marketers said “to buy from source, you have to tip the filling station attendants before they sell to you.” The tip you pay is not accounted for, so that is their attraction,” Amadi said.
He further explained that it takes so much pains to even buy but that of one is lucky to get, it is a good business because of the way people crave for it.
He hinted that if the problem continuous, the danger of mixing the product might set in, in view of the high demand.
Chris Oluoh