Nigeria: Fuel Scarcity Hits Port Harcourt

Long queues of vehicles waiting to get fuel in filling stations have resurfaced leading to harassment of motorists by street urchins who seize gallons from people and smash wind screens in the metropolis.

The long queue became noticeable Sunday evening and by yesterday it assumed an alarming proportion as queues started stretching into miles and sometimes blocking express roads which led to serious traffic jam.

…At a point yesterday evening, some miscreants clashed at the Waterlines area, smashing windscreens of motorists waiting to procure fuel, while some of the more audacious ones used pipes to openly siphon fuel from some vehicles.

The effect of the scarcity is already telling on the people as transport fares jumped by about 150 per cent while fewer vehicles were seen on the road.

This Day (Lagos)