Fuel Subsidy Removal: Long Queues in Different Parts of Country

Although many residents were caught unawares by the removal which many expected would take effect well into the New Year, the news of the removal was quick to spread as vehicle owners made to fill up their petrol tanks.

Notwithstanding that the city is yet to return to its usual bustle as many residents are still away on Christmas break, the queues grew.

The pump price which was 65 naira per litre before government’s announcement rose to 140 naira barely two hours later, to the disenchantment of buyers.

In plateau state, Nigeria’s north central region, most petrol stations in Jos, were not dispensing.

It is not too clear if this is as a result of the holiday, or if it was as a result of the fuel subsidy removal.

Our correspondent in Jos however says that there are disparities in pump price at the various filling stations, the NNPC mega station though with a long queue still sell for N65 per litre while some independent petrol sellers have hiked the price to as much as N85 and N100 respectively.

And in Kano state, north-west Nigeria, our correspondent there says a lot of stations started selling as soon as they heard the news of the removal of subsidy.

Prior to this official pronouncement a litre of fuel sold for 55 naira a litre. The excuse given is that they have run out of supplies.

After weeks of anxiety over the proposed removal of the subsidy regime for the premium motor spirit {PMS} by the federal government, the sudden announcement by the PPPRA removing subsidy on petrol, has left Lagos residents in a mad rush for the product before the price hits the roof.

Many motorists who besieged fuel stations queried government’s decision over the removal, saying, it is ill-timed.