On Tuesday, long lines of vehicles resurfaced at many filling stations in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State.
Between 8 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, long queues of vehicles were observed at Rano on Lokoja-Kabba Road, Shafa on Ganaja Road, and other Lokoja filling stations.
However, it was discovered that there was no increase in the pump price of fuel, as it remained at N210 per litre at Rano and Shafa filing stations, respectively, at the time of filing this report.
In separate interviews with newsmen, some of the motorists said they bought the product in a panic because they expected the price of petrol to rise soon.
“I decided to come and fill the tank of my car since the new government said it has removed fuel subsidy because, according to them, such policy is no more justifiable within the current economic reality of the Nigerian economy.
“At least, this is what our new President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, told us on Monday in his inaugural presidential speech in Abuja,” Mr Michael Babola, a civil servant, said while speaking with newsmen.
The removal of fuel subsidy, some members of the public argued while speaking with our correspondent, might have increased the fear of a possible increase in fuel price; hence many motorists rushed to filling stations to buy the product.
Commercial motorcycle riders, popularly called Okada riders as well as Tricycle riders (kekenapep), have cashed in on the situation to increase their fares.
A trip of three kilometres from Ganaja junction, which used to cost passengers N50 on Monday, has gone up to between N100 and N150 on Tuesday morning.
Some motorists told newsmen that some filling stations had also increased the pump price of fuel, adding that they needed to jack up their fares too to break even, if not to make a gain.