As consumers face the scourge of fuel scarcity at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, illegal sales of the product has continued to boom in the city and its environs.
Findings by the NPO Reports show that thousands of young persons line major routes in Abuja with the products openly displayed for interested buyers.
Along major areas of Maitama, Gwarinpa, Dutse, Kubwa Expressway, Airport Road, Wuse, Garki, sellers line the roads with plastic containers filled with fuel and hose to help would be buyers fill their tanks.
In some cases, a 10 litre container costs between N3,500 and N4000 depending on the area.
NPO Reports also observed that many of the boys also operate at locations not far away from petrol stations.
It is either the queues at the petrol stations are too long or there are no sales within the stations.
One of the sellers the NPO Reports spoke with at the Galadima area of Abuja, who simply identified him as Habila, declined to reveal the source of the products they sell.
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“We don’t know. But we just sell,” he told the NPO Reports
At a filling station Sunset Energy Services, along the Kubwa Expressway, while many were on the line waiting for their turns, many illegal sellers were waiting at the entrance of the filling stations.
One of those who spoke with the NPO Reports at the filling station said gets his supply through the help of an official of one of the filling stations.
A source told the NPO Reports that many dealers have perfected the diversion of the products to locations where products meant for legal sale points are discharged and sold at higher prices.
One of such locations traced by the NPO Reports is located at Gwarinpa. Though looking like a mini-fuel stations with two nozzles, one of the attendants interviewed by the correspondent said he did not know the name of the filling station.
Tucked at the back of a block making industry, buyers go to the station and get the products between N250 per litre or more.
The fuel depot does not carry any form of identification but it appears to have existed for long.
Few days ago, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority said the current fuel scarcity in Abuja and other surrounding states is caused by the inability of fuel trucks to have access to Lokoja roads.
The statement further reads: “The Authority assured the public that there are sufficient petroleum products inland.”
“Consequently, the general public is advised to avoid panic buying at fuel stations as the NMDPRA is working assiduously with relevant stakeholders and government agencies to ensure product availability across the country”.
“In the same context, Marketers are advised to desist from hoarding the product so as not to inflict hardship on Nigerians.”
“The Authority wishes to reiterate its commitment to Nigerians to ensure seamless supply and distribution of petroleum products nationwide.”
A major part of the illegal sale is that none of them appears to be in fear of any arrest by security agencies.