Fuel scarcity will continue in Katsina, says c’ttee

The committee set up by the Katsina state government for distribution and sale of petroleum has ruled out the possibility ending scarcity of petrol in the state due to the refusal of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to make it abundant.
Secretary of the committee, Malam Bello Yusuf Saulawa, told newsmen in Katsina on Monday that “because the state faces scarcity of petrol motorists will continue to buy the commodity at exorbitant price.”
Saulawa said major and independent marketers had complained over the refusal of the NNPC to sell petrol to them, pointing out that the attitude of the Corporation against the marketers brought about the scarcity of the commodity in the state.
“We are not getting sufficient petrol from NNPC, the situation forced major and independent marketers to source petrol from the open market,” he said.
Blueprint learnt that scarcity of petrol partially affected economic activities and a rise transport fares in the state.
Our findings revealed that a litre of petrol is sold at the rate of N130 to N140 at petrol station while at black market is being sold at N250 per litre across the state.
Some residents, who spoke to our correspondent, blamed the NNPC and marketers for creating unnecessary hardship to Nigerians.
Bello Funtua, a civil servant, said the scarcity of the commodity had not only brought hardship, but provided opportunity for a few individuals to make quick money.
Funtua, therefore, called on the federal government to urgently intervene and make the commodity available in all the states.