There were long queues of motorists at petrol stations in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, today, following the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), also known as petrol.
This is coming on the heels of the strike embarked upon by NARTO.
The queues were seen at Conoil, Riquest and Restore Park filling stations along Aba road while many stations along the same route and other parts of the city shut down their facilities.
Our correspondent who visited some filling stations in the city, reports that fuel is selling at N800 in Conoil, N719 Riquest and N710 Restor Park, respectively.
Also, our reporter who went round the city, observed that transport fares have increased by 100 per cent and commuters who could not afford the new price were seen trekking to their ofices, business places and various destinations in anger.
Recall that the strike embarked upon by NARTO had led to the closure of filling stations in many other states as well as the Federal Capital Territory on Monday as the meeting between the Federal Government and the association continues in Abuja.
NARTO had vowed to stop lifting petroleum products beginning from Monday due to the high cost of diesel, which they use to power their trucks for transporting petroleum products across Nigeria.
While the tanker operators insisted that the suspension of operations was still in force, they met with the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, oil marketers, and the regulator of the downstream sector on Monday to resolve the issues.
Speaking in Abuja after the meeting, Lokpobiri expressed optimism that the concerns raised by the petroleum products’ transporters would be resolved, adding that the meeting would continue throughout the night till Tuesday.
In attendance at the meeting was the President of NARTO, Yusuf Othman, who led other executive members of the association; officials of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, led by the agency’s Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed; oil marketers in the downstream; as well as the minister and his team.
Allaying fear over the strike, Lokpobiri stated, “We hope to find solutions to the concerns as soon as possible. Engagement will continue throughout this night till tomorrow and at the end of it all, we will be able to tell you the outcome of our engagements.
“But it should be pointed out clearly that they have demonstrated patriotism. It should also be known that the issues have nothing to do with the government, they are basically commercial. So as a government, we have intervened so that Nigerians will not suffer.’’
