By Fatima Muraina

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Amidst artificial scarcity of the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol in some parts of the country, some Nigerians have raised an alarm over the development, and blamed marketers for deliberately causing scarcity of the product.

In Akure, the Ondo State capital, there have been scarcity of the product in the last few days, forcing consumers to buy at exorbitant price.

The development has also caused panic buying and long queues at the few stations that dispense the product.

The cause of the fuel scarcity is not immediately clear, but residents blamed the situation on the inordinate desire by the petroleum marketers to make double gains.

The scarcity has continued to leave commuters stranded at various bus stops within the state capital as transporters complained nonavailability of the product, and that the few stations that sell have increased the price.

Investigation by The Hope showed that the few stations that opened for business in Akure were selling the product for as high as N700 per litre.

The development has also led to the increase in the transportation fare, depending on the distance and bargaining power between the commuter and the transporter.

Speaking on their experience, some transporters and commuters including John Adeyeye, Olaolu Kayode and Jimoh Alade, blamed marketers for creating what they called artificial scarcity and inflicting unnecessary pains on innocent citizens.

They equally called on government at the levels to prevail on the marketers by checking their unwholesome activities.

According to them, if urgent step is not taken, the current situation will force traders to increase price of commodities, thereby adding more pains to the people.