Fuel marketers in the northern region, especially Sokoto State, particularly black marketers are now selling patrol at N2000 per liter as scarcity of the product bites harder nationwide.

Residents of Sokoto and adjourning states have been thrown into lamentation and hardship due to the fuel scarcity being experienced in all parts of the region.

The unbearable scarcity of fuel in the state is said to have made businesses and other activities very difficult.

Channels TV reports that commuters in the state said most filling stations are locked under the guise that there is no fuel, while black marketers are selling a litre of petrol between N2,000 and N2,500 across the state capital.

Some of the residents called on the government to intervene to bring the situation under control so as not to degenerate, as they lamented that the situation has started affecting business activities and making life difficult for people.

They also said that the black market price of N2500 per litre is becoming scarce and that this is bringing business and other activities to a standstill in the state capital.

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) blamed the fuel scarcity and queues that had resurfaced in Lagos, Abuja and other states on “logistics issues”, but said that the issues had been resolved.

The NNPCL in a statement said, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.

“It also wishes to reiterate that the prices of petroleum products are not changing,” while calling on Nigerians to “avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country.”