By Peter Omopo
Motorists lament N970 per litre pump price, black market hits N1,250
Sokoto residents are grappling with acute fuel scarcity despite the suspension of the nationwide strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), leaving transport services disrupted and pump prices soaring across the state.
A visit to several filling stations in the Sokoto metropolis on Friday revealed that most outlets remained closed, while the few dispensing fuel sold at between ₦960 and ₦970 per litre, far above the official price.
At the black market, prices have surged to as high as ₦1,250 per litre, with a four-litre gallon now selling for ₦6,000. The development has forced many motorists to abandon their vehicles and turn to tricycles and motorcycles for mobility, causing congestion and a sharp increase in transport fares.
Residents Decry Hardship
Speaking with The PUNCH, a motorist, Mallam Abba Umar, condemned the attitude of petrol marketers, accusing them of hoarding products to exploit consumers.
“Most petrol marketers in Sokoto are very devilish and wicked. They have fuel but refuse to sell it during the day. They only open at night to sell at higher prices between ₦960 and ₦970 per litre. This is unfair. The state government should intervene to save us from this hardship,” Umar lamented.
Our correspondent observed that even some NNPC Retail outlets — about seven across the metropolis — were not dispensing fuel as of the time of filing this report. Long queues of vehicles and jerry cans were sighted at the few open stations, while several roads appeared deserted.
Transport Costs Soar
The scarcity has also triggered a sharp rise in transport fares. Commuters now pay double the usual fare, with intra-city trips that previously cost ₦300 now ranging between ₦600 and ₦800.
Residents fear that if the situation persists, it could paralyse economic activities further and worsen the cost of goods and services in the coming days.
Calls for Government Intervention
Many residents have urged the Sokoto State Government and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to urgently intervene and restore normalcy.
“Government should sanction marketers hoarding fuel. People are suffering unnecessarily,” said Hassan Mohammed, a commercial tricycle operator.
As of Saturday, there was no official statement from the Sokoto State Ministry of Energy or NNPC on measures being taken to address the shortage. However, officials within the petroleum sector attribute the situation to supply disruptions and hoarding by marketers following uncertainty caused by the recent strike.
For now, residents of Sokoto continue to endure long queues, empty tanks, and skyrocketing transport fares as the fuel crisis bites harder.
