There is a serious scarcity of fuel in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, as motorists queue in hundreds at various filling stations, while some did not open for sale.

Those spotted selling in the early hours of Wednesday hastily closed their station upon receiving information that some independent marketers in Lokoja were not selling their products to customers.

This development has led to long queues at some of the filing stations that are open to sell to customers.

It was revealed that some independent marketers are now selling petrol within the range of N700 to N750 per litre, which is above the official pump price.

Black marketers, however, have also capitalized on the scarcity of fuel as they are selling within N1000 to N1200 per litre.

Speaking to a motorist identified as Musa Umar who wanted to purchase fuel in one of the filling stations, he lamented that the scarcity is biting harder on the people.

According to him, I just came back from the Eastern part of the Country and things are normal there. But when I came back to Lokoja yesterday, I discovered that many filling stations are not dispensing fuel.

What could be the reasons for this scarcity? The cost of living is very high. Transportation has hit the roof. People are suffering. The President should do something quickly before things get out of hand. We heard that the price of fuel will soon go down, thats why these marketers are hoarding it.

I dont know how true this is anyway. The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) should check the activities of petroleum marketers in Kogi State as they are inflicting pains on citizens of the state.

Efforts to reach the Kogi State Coordinator of NMDPRA, Engr. Ogbe Orits Godwin, on this development proved abortive at the time of filing this report. (Nigerian Tribune)