Queues return after Tinubu’s ‘Subsidy is Gone’ remark; Osun govt. threatens to seal stations hoarding petrol

President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement while delivering his inaugural speech on Monday that subsidy on petrol was ‘gone’, has resulted in long stretch of queues in filing stations and many others across the country have shut down operations on Monday.

Retail stations in Lagos , Abuja , Warri and other major cities, also hiked the prices of the product, taking motorists and other Nigerians by surprise.

In Warri, Delta State, some retailers, including Rain Oil on Warri-Sapele road, which was selling the product earlier for N215, immediately shut down, leaving customers stranded.

It was the same in Shafa petrol station, Enerhen road, which shut their gates to customers, turning back any motorist that attempted to gain access to the facility.

In Lagos, it was learnt that some NNPC stations in Ikeja, Alausa were crowded by motorists who rushed to buy the product as many stations witnessed queues few hours after the announcement.

LENS report that Total filling station on Lawanson-Itire road by Anjorin owned by one of the major marketers was still selling on Monday and Tuesday at the government approved pump price though witnessed heavy queues from motorists and those buying in Jerry cans.

Also in Abuja, queues were springing up across the capital city, which was just getting some respite from about a year of erratic petroleum products supply.

In a few places where petrol was being dispensed to customers, motorists formed long queues, while those buying in Jerry cans flooded fuel pumps.

Meanwhile, the Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke has threatened to seal off filling stations hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as petrol.

Fuel queues have since resurfaced across the country since the presidential pronouncement as Nigerians forage for the premium product.

In its warning to marketers, the Osun State Government said the deliberate hoarding of PMS by the fuel dealers within the state as a result of Tinubu’s statement has caused unnecessary hardship on the people.

Tinubu during his inaugural speech at the Eagle Square, had said that there was no more provision for fuel subsidy, arguing that it could no longer be justified. “The fuel subsidy is gone,” Tinubu declared.

He reasoned that rather the funds would be re-channeled into better investment in public infrastructure, education, healthcare and jobs that will materially improve the lives of millions.

However, the vagueness of the announcement has caused more chaos as it was not specified when the subsidy would be removed, giving oil marketers the opportunity to hoard the product to monitor the direction of the market .

Recall that during his campaign, Tinubu had vowed that if he emerged victorious, his administration would remove petrol subsidy to free up funds to stimulate the economy.