Subsidy Removal: Filling Stations Close Doors in Abuja, Lagos, Ibadan

With Agency report 

Hours after President Bola Tinubu announced removal of subsidy on Monday, long queques have resurfaced at filling stations in major cities across the country.

Among cities affected by the pronouncement are Abuja, the nation's capital, Lagos and Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Petrol supply have been interrupted in Maitama, Wuse, Gwarimpa, Wuye and Kubwa areas of Abuja where long queues have returned to filling stations while some are closed.

Some of the filling stations are selling at the approved pump price while some have increased the prices by Monday evening.

Some residents of the capital city complained that the scarcity would affect the economy, as most businesses would be negatively affected.

A civil servant, Mr Brown Uzor, said he has been in the filling station since 7 a.m., and has not been able to get fuel.

“We know it’s not the government’s making but the government should work on the roadmap to avoid any further problem.

“However, we saw this coming, I believe it’s just panic buying and the filling stations are taking advantage of the president’s speech.

“I personally want the subsidy to be removed because as a nation we need to grow but the fuel price should not be too high because of the ordinary Nigerian,” Uzor said.

??????The situation is similar in Lagos where motorists expressed distress over the sudden scarcity that followed the President's announcement.

Ibadan, the Oyo State capital is not left out as long queques have also returned to the sprawling city.

AbujaCityJournal at Akobo area of the state reported motorists and car owners lamenting to have spent over three hours on queque.

"Just check around, it is only this filling station (Bovas) that is selling and I have been here since 8am without coming close to buying now.

"We expect that the subsidy would be removed but these marketers are not doing us any good with this sabotage of the president's announcement. Did they just buy product yesterday," the motorist lamented.

The President, in his inaugural speech, said that the fuel subsidy regime had ended with the commencement of his administration.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) are addressing the concerns regarding the removal of fuel subsidy.

The agency stated that it was working to avoid disruptions in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol, and ensure that consumers are not short-changed in any form.

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