by crossriverwatch admin
Except urgent measures are taken by the government, lower and middle class citizens who use kerosene for domestic purposes in Calabar, the Cross River State capital may continue to sleep at the filling stations, CrossRiverWatch findings revealed.
The commodity which is majorly used by ordinary people has become very scarce within Calabar metropolis for almost a month while few stations that have the product have ‘jacked’ up the price.
Government approved price for kerosene is N50 per liter but the price in Calabar has gone as high as N200 per liter, making life a lot more difficult for the ordinary people.
The product is mostly used for cooking (stove)and lighting(lantern) especially amongst the middle and lower class in towns and communities.
Most filling stations visited by CrossRiverWatch in Calabar do not have the product except for a few ones with long queues of jerrycans and customers waiting endlessly to buy the product.
“I have been here since last night when I hear that this station has the product it has not started selling even up till now,I don’t even know whether they will sell today or not, but as long as they assure us I will still be here because I don’t have any for my domestic use” said Patricia Okon.
Another Hajia from Army Barack Eburutu who refused to mentioned her name said in anger” Dan Allah, Dan Annebi! help us tell this people that this is Ramadan Period, we need to prepare food for our husband and children, walahi i don’t have kerosene in my house. So if they have in their pump, they should please sell for us, we have been here since morning “.
Effort to speak with officials of department of Petroleum Resources (DPR)Cross River/Akwa Ibom Zone on the causes of the scarcity was unsuccessful as several calls put across on his phone were not answered.
However, an expert in the oil industry who does not want his name mentioned said, “Do you know that NNPC here in Calabar is not functioning, I’m a marine engineer and a key player in the oil and gas industry. Even fuel that is being used in Calabar and its environs is being ferried from Lagos to the depot here and the obstacles we face on the high sea are too many. Government knows what to do if they want it resolved.” he said.
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