Fuel dries up in Benin

Residents of Benin have called on the state government to prevail on petroleum tanker drivers in the state to resume lifting of fuel; as scarcity bites harder in the area.

The aggrieved tanker drivers are protesting the kidnap of their colleague and chairman of the Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association, Osasuyi Osahon, who was abducted on Monday last week.

Osahon's whereabouts is still unknown one week after he was abducted.

The state's police spokesperson, Etim Bassey, however, stated that the kidnappers will be arrested soon while assuring that Osahon will be released unhurt.     

Following the fuel scarcity, black market merchants have been having a spree as a litre is sold for as high as N300.

At the few petrol stations opened for business, fuel was being sold for between N150 and N200, as against the official pump price of N97 per litre.

A resident, Timothy Osakwe, said he had to travel outside the city to buy fuel. "I have not bought fuel in Benin since the scarcity started because it is the black marketers that are available and they are selling at very expensive rates," he said. "I have to go to Agbor in Delta State to buy fuel because it is cheaper and the filling stations are selling at the official price.

We call on the government to prevail on the tanker drivers to go back to work and allow the security men to look for their colleague. Putting the residents in pains is not the best thing to do as many are suffering from lack of fuel in the state."

 Tanker drivers in the state down tools in protest of a kidnapped colleague.

Source:Daily Times