Fuel scarcity hits Ebonyi as stations shut down over NUPENG strike

…black marketplace sells astatine ₦1,200–₦1,500 per litre

By Jeff Agbodo, Abakaliki

Fuel scarcity has gripped Abakaliki, the Ebonyi State capital, arsenic galore filling stations belonging to some autarkic and large marketers unopen down operations successful compliance with the ongoing onslaught declared by the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG).

The strike, linked to a quality betwixt the national and the Dangote Group, has triggered agelong queues, stranded commuters, and soaring transport fares. Black marketplace operators are cashing in, selling substance betwixt ₦1,200 and ₦1,500 per litre successful the city, with adjacent higher rates reported successful agrarian areas.

A monitoring workout crossed Abakaliki revealed that stations on Ogoja Road, Afikpo Road, and the Enugu-Abakaliki Expressway were closed. Only a fistful of outlets opened concisely successful the greeting but aboriginal unopen their gates, citing fears of sanctions from NUPENG’s task force.

The improvement has deed proscription hard. Tricycle fares that antecedently outgo ₦200 present spell for ₦400, portion ₦300 routes person jumped to ₦600. Motorcyclists person besides accrued their charges, forcing galore residents to trek agelong distances crossed the city.

Commuters were seen trekking routes specified arsenic International Market to Water Works Road, PRESCO Junction to Udensi, and from Centenary City Secretariat to the Expressway.

Mr. Nnachi Ukah, a tricycle operator, lamented the hardship, saying the precocious outgo of achromatic marketplace substance had forced him to parkland his vehicle. “Passengers cannot spend the caller fares. We bargain substance astatine precise precocious prices, but erstwhile we set fares, they garbage to committee and alternatively take to trek. I person nary enactment but to halt work,” helium said.

Ukah appealed to the authorities to measurement successful and resoluteness the crisis, informing that if the onslaught is not called disconnected quickly, the concern could worsen.

The station Fuel scarcity hits Ebonyi arsenic stations unopen down implicit NUPENG strike appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.