Fuel scarcity hits Lagos, Ogun State as long queue is seen in stations.
By Onome Naomi
Fuel scarcity has hit some parts of Ogun and Lagos States as the supply of Premium Motor Spirit popularly known as petrol encounter glitches.
Therefore, transporters whose freight rate is fixed and regulated cannot sustain the business if nothing is done.
“We can’t operate. We can’t work if nothing is done to increase the freight rate. The condition is unbearable because of the cost of diesel,” he said.
He urged the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to urgently increase the freight rate to reflect the present cost of Automotive Gas Oil (AGO) diesel and spare parts.
He disclosed that the ex-depot cost of diesel soared to N401 per litre on Monday even as he expressed worry that this might hit N420 per litre at the filling stations if something is not done urgently.
To this end, he called on the NMDPRA Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed, to urgently convene a stakeholders’ meeting to increase the freight rate and address other pressing issues of cost of operation.
“We are appealing to the CEO of the downstream regulatory agency to sit down with us immediately and ensure that the freight rate is increased to reflect the rising cost of diesel and other spare parts.”
Explaining the rising cost of diesel, Othman revealed “We have a problem. Today, the price of AGO ex-depot is N401 per litre. It means that in Abuja, Kaduna, Kano, it will reach N420 to N430. At the filling station, it will reach like N450.
“It is just to regulate our rising operation cost. It is as simple as that. Otherwise, our people have parked their trucks and more people are going to park.” (Nigerian Tribune)
