Motorists Bemoan Fuel Scarcity In PH

Motorists in Port
Harcourt, have called on the Federal Government to proffer lasting solution to the recurring issue of fuel scarcity in the country.
Some motorists who spoke with The Tide Thursday in Port Harcourt, said the re-occurrence of fuel scarcity has become regrettable.
A cab operator, Mr John Okon, said the situation was stage-managed by those at the top in order to rake in more money for themselves.
He noted that the availability of natural resources in the country, especially crude oil was enough to stabilize the economy.
Okon regretted that the current fuel scarcity has introduced a level of hardship among motorists and commuters in the state.
Another bus operator, Mr Promise Adura, said the issue of fuel scarcity was a way of punishing the poor masses by those at the helm of affairs.
He explained that since those at the top do not feel the impact, the situation would continue to re-occur.
Adura, who said he has operated cab in the state for over 20 years, recalled that the business has far fallen below standard due to the continuous re-occurrence of fuel scarcity.
A lady cab owner, Mrs Goodsuccess  Egenti, told The Tide that some fuel stations now sell one litre of fuel for N120 as against the N86.50 official price by the federal government.
According to him, if the trend was not checked, it may force some people out of business.
Others have also called on the Minister of State for Petroleum, Mr Ibe Ka-Chikwu, to advise the Federal Government to declare state of emergency on the petroleum sector, if it plans to save the country’s economy.
They further appealed with the minister to, as a matter of urgency contact petroleum dealers, so as to end the issue of fuel scarcity in the country.
The Tide investigation reveals that heavy queue has started to e-surface in most fuel stations in the state due to alleged scarcity that started two days ago. Attempts to contact the state chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Prince Nkpe proved abortive, but a source in the association, said efforts are underway to clear all the bottleneck in the system this week.