Standup9ja: Motorists groan over filling stations closure in Damaturu

Standup9ja: Motorists groan over filling stations closure in Damaturu

Motorists and commuters groaned over closure of filling stations which created artificial shortage and pushed up price of petrol on the black market in Damaturu.

Standup9ja investigations revealed that the marketers shut down the stations in anticipation of nationwide strike by the association Petrol Tanker Drivers.

Our correspondent, who went round the city observed that all the filling stations were under lock, making the black marketers to charge N2300 and above per 4-litre gallon.

Amadu Garba, a commercial car driver, said it's only in Damaturu that people are experiencing the fuel scarcity.

"I passed Damaturu in the morning to Maiduguri. Filling stations were selling in Potiskum, so also in Maiduguri. But, to my surprise, all filling stations have closed down in Damaturu," he said.

Abdullahi Abubakar, a commuter along Gashua road, said, “I couldn’t get the fuel yesterday. Thank God it's weekend today, but the situation has partially shut down the town, with Keke Napep operators almost doubling fares," he said.

He called on the Yobe governor Ibrahim Gaidam to intervene and deal with the marketers found hoarding the product.

"Adequate measures should be put in place to address the situation before it escalates to other places, because it will have adverse effect on the people, if not quickly checked," he added.