Fuel scarcity in Sokoto continues to cripple daily life as residents face inflated prices and worsening economic hardship despite strike suspension
Fuel scarcity in Sokoto has continued to paralyse economic and social activities across the metropolis despite the suspension of the three-day strike by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN).
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Our correspondent, who monitored the situation across the city on Friday and Saturday, observed that most filling stations remained shut, while the few dispensing fuel sold at inflated prices ranging between ₦960 and ₦970 per litre.
Even the NNPC retail outlets, numbering about seven within the metropolis, were not selling fuel, further compounding the hardship of motorists and residents.
At the black market, fuel now sells for as high as ₦1,250 per litre, or ₦6,000 for a four-litre gallon, as desperate motorists resort to roadside vendors to keep their vehicles running.
One motorist, Mallam Abba Umar, condemned the attitude of petrol marketers, accusing them of deliberately hoarding the product to exploit residents.
He said many marketers open only at night to sell at inflated prices, calling their actions “devilish and wicked.”
Another resident, Mrs Rukayyat Bello, who had been on queue since morning at a filling station along Gusau Road, decried the situation, saying it has made daily life unbearable.
According to her, transport fares have doubled, and prices of goods have soared, making survival difficult for ordinary people.
The current scarcity began shortly after the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG) threatened to embark on an industrial action over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.
Although the strike was later averted, PENGASSAN eventually proceeded with a three-day strike that disrupted fuel distribution nationwide.
Despite the suspension of the strike, normal fuel supply is yet to resume in many parts of Sokoto.
Investigations revealed that several marketers now prefer to sell secretly to black market operators, who resell at exorbitant rates, making huge profits at the expense of the public.
Major roads in Sokoto remain largely deserted as many motorists have parked their vehicles due to lack of fuel.
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Residents are now calling on the state government and relevant federal agencies to take urgent and decisive action to restore normal supply and end the suffering.
