Fuel scarcity has continued to paralyse economic and social activities in Sokoto metropolis despite the suspension of the three-day strike embarked upon by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria.

The PUNCH, which monitored the situation across the city on Friday and Saturday, observed that most filling stations remained under lock and key, 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 of the motorists, Mallam Abba Umar, condemned the attitude of petrol marketers in the state, accusing them of deliberately hoarding the product to exploit residents.

“Most petrol marketers in Sokoto are very devilish and wicked. They have fuel but refuse to sell it during the day. They only open at night to sell between ₦960 and ₦970 per litre.

“This is unfair. The state government should intervene to save us from this hardship,” Umar lamented.

Another motorist, 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.

“Transport fares have doubled, and everything in the market is going up because of this scarcity. It’s becoming too difficult for ordinary people to survive,” she said.

Recall that the current scarcity began shortly after the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers threatened to embark on an industrial action over unresolved issues with the Federal Government.

Although the strike was later averted, PENGASSAN eventually proceeded on a three-day strike, which disrupted fuel distribution nationwide.

Despite the suspension of the strike, normal supply is yet to resume in many parts of Sokoto.

Investigations revealed that several marketers now prefer to sell fuel secretly to black market operators, who resell at exorbitant rates, thereby making higher profits at the expense of the public.

The PUNCH reports that major roads in Sokoto remain deserted as many motorists have parked their vehicles due to a lack of fuel, while residents continue to call on the state government and relevant federal agencies to take urgent action to restore normal supply.