From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Major roads in Lokoja, Kogi State capital, noted for heavy traffic, on Wednesday wore thin vehicular movement as the weeklong scarcity of fuel remains unabated.
The development had also continued to register telling effects on the economic and social life of residents and those transiting the area to other parts of the country.
Our Correspondent, who visited many filling stations in the state capital on Wednesday, reports that scanty number of petrol attendants were seen dispensing the product to motorists, motorcyclists and those on jerricans.
In many instances, apart from the NNPC, where fuel is sold at the official price of N165 per litre,others were seen selling the product between N200 and N250 per litre.
Some commercial drivers,who spoke with our Correspondent said frustration of not getting the product at the official price led to the mad push to purchase the product at between N400 and N500 per litre in Lokoja.
They attributed the sharp rise in transport fare to the exorbitant price they got fuel at the black markets.
Some commuters, who also reflected on the development in separate interview with Our Correspondent, expressed concern that besides the hike in the transport fare, they were also getting frustrated boarding commercial vehicles as a result of inadequate number of such mode of transportation in the area.
Market check by Our Correspondent revealed that food items are not left out of the consequences of fuel scarcity as they have also added prices.
