Despite claims by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), that it has increased fuel allocation to Abuja from the initial 70 trucks to 170, and Lagos 300 trucks, vehiculars queues still dotted filling stations across the two cities.
The increase for Abuja, which represents about 142.8 per cent has, however, failed to impact the motoring public given the long queues of consumers at the filling stations.
A breakdown of the 300 trucks to Lagos translates to 9.9 million litres while the 170 trucks for Abuja amount to 5,610,000 litres.
In Abuja, transportation fares rose dramatically in what many say was a sign of a bleak Christmas, if the government fails to urgently bridge the supply gap.
Wuse-Lugbe shuttle which was N150 now goes for between N250 and at peak periods.
A civil servant, Stella Nnamdi, while lamenting on the development said the government has remained insensitive to the plight of Nigerians.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) yesterday claimed it has 21 days sufficiency of petrol.
A marketer who spoke to Daily Sun in confidence yesterday, said a vessel, Bong Akrious, had berthed at NIPCO depot with 35 million metric tonnes and was already discharging.
He said part of the 35 million metric tonnes would be shared among Total, Mobil, Conoil and Aiteo, stating that when the discharge process was completed, there might be slight improvement in the days ahead.
But the Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division of NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, said that the Corporation has 21 days sufficiency of petrol, which translates into 750 million litres of white product.
He enjoined motorists and other consumers of petroleum products to desist from panic buying, while also warning marketers not to engage in hoarding as defaulters would be prosecuted.
Already, the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), has said it will impose a N20 million fine on those selling petrol above approved ex-depot price including closure of such facility for three months while the PPMC shall also exclude the erring depots from coastal supply allocation for at least a period of one calendar year.
DPR Lagos Zonal Controller, Mr. Wole Akinyosoye, equally said depots selling petrol to bulk buyers without verifiable retail outlets risk a fine of N10 million and closure of the erring depot for at least six months, after the products in the depot are sold off.
For those hoarding at retail outlets, a fine of N200.00 per litre would be imposed on the hoarded product and the erring station would be closed for at least six months. In addition, the recovered product would be auctioned off free to the public.