Fuel Scarcity Hits Port Harcourt

Fuel Scarcity has returned to petrol stations in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, as strike by independent petroleum marketers begin to bite hard.

The marketers had said on Tuesday that they would embark on the strike because the state government failed to stop security agencies in the state from harassing their members. Some filling stations in Port Harcourt metropolis were shut because they did not have stock of petroleum motor spirit to sell to the public as of Thursday.

Public transportation in Port Harcourt is under great strain as most transporters have parked their vehicles, leading to a hike in transport fares.

Many commuters have to trek long distances as a result of few vehicles on the road.

A few of the vehicles on the road depend on the black market where petrol is being sold for as high as 400 naira per litre.

At the few stations with supply, a litre of petrol sells for between 200 and 300 naira against the official pump price of 179 naira.