Some Gombe residents on Tuesday lamented ongoing scarcity across various petroleum stations in Gombe metropolis, especially around Tumfure axis along Gombe-Bauchi expressway.
Our correspondent reports that fuel currently sells across the state at N1000 in a few operating filling stations and N1,600 at black markets.
At some of the stations visited by our correspondent including Bovas along Bauchi-Gombe expressway, following attempt to control buyers within the premises it caused gridlock on the highway.
Speaking, Danladi Bakam, stated that life has become unbearable with the new rate, adding “Cost of fuel now is N1000, while black marketers are charging N1,600.”
Mohammed Mohammed, who operates commercial motorcycle said, “We are trying to make the money from our customers. We are suffering and it’s unfortunate we buy fuel at N1,400 because we can’t stay at long queues at filling station.”
Speaking in a telephone chat with our correspondent, Gombe State Secretary Nigerian Labour Congress Ibrahim Fika, said the current scarcity has worsened the hardship experienced by many.
Fika said, “The scarcity has further worsened the challenges faced by many across the state. Today (Tuesday), we bought at N999 at almost N1000 and you can imagine where that can take you to and how many people can afford it.”
On his part, Hussain Gusau, told our correspondent that the state has become less habitable as residents not only suffer from scarcity of fuel but have been managing partial electricity services.
“The entire thing has become too much to bear, we are suffering from no light, no fuel, how can we survive this? For weeks now the power situation has become terrible, now we can’t buy fuel to power out generators,” Gusau added.
