Long queues have resurfaced in fueling stations in Kano state as fuel scarcity has reemerged in the state, causing motorists to go into panic buying the commodity.
Checks by Daily News24 around Kano metropolis show that majority of the fueling stations were under lock and key while some had petrol sold for above the approved government price.
Fueling stations which sold the commodity at N185 were hassled with long queues as motorists were seen patiently waiting to purchase the commodity.
Owing to the scarcity of petrol in the state, motorists were left with no option but to purchase fuel from black marketers at a higher price, ranging from N1,000 to N1,200 per four-litre gallon, depending on the location.
One of such motorists who have been forced to buy petrol from black marketers is Bashir Gasau a tricycle rider who said he has no other option than to buy petrol from black marketers because he can’t bear to withstand the long queues thereby losing customers while waiting.
“I cannot spend up to two hours queuing for petrol at the station because it will affect my business and because I don’t want to lose customers I have to buy fuel when I have the opportunity to buy so that I can have petrol readily available.
“I prefer to buy fuel at the petrol station even if it’s above the government-approved price but I cannot withstand the long queues,” Gasau said.
Charles Ani, a motorist told Daily News24 that queuing for long hours at fueling stations to get fuel has become unbearable even with the hiked cost of the commodity in the petrol stations.
“I bought petrol at a petrol station at N230 because of the uncertainty of getting the commodity and has led me to panic buying fuel.
“Even though I have enough fuel for my car, and I see a fueling station where the queues are not so long, I just have to top my tank and buy additional petrol because I don’t know how long this scarcity might take.
“If you look around town now, black marketers have fuel readily available while most stations go out-of-stock before noon, thereby forcing people to buy from the black market. This is really crazy and the sad thing is that one has to buy fuel because it is a necessity.” Ani said.
