By Saheed Ibrahim,
Toheeb Salami,
Faith Adejiyan &
Ayomide Aladegbaye

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The persistent hoarding of petrol has encouraged black marketeering to thrive, as many filling stations sell petrol at N250 per litre mainly at night to evade government Task Force.

Findings by The Hope revealed that many filling stations were fond of opening at night and selling till around 3am at high price

Besides, the petrol dealers prefer selling to customers in  kegs who in turn sell at outrageous price to anxious buyers.

One of the black marketers along Ondo road, who did not want his name mentioned, told The Hope that he dropped his kegs at a station and filled them over night.

“So, I get them the following day. I bought at N180 and sell at N400 or N500.

I also give extra cash from the deal whenever I need fuel. We need to survive you know. This is my own business and I have family to feed.”

Another black market seller, Mr. Stephen Adewale told The Hope that the fuel crisis had created business opportunity for him to survive the economic crunch in the country, hoping that the crisis should not be over.

He also said that, things have been difficult for him for some months, but since my friend told me about fuel black market business, I can now feed my family unlike before when I barely brought home money.

“I know it is a bad prayer, but I wish this thing can continue so that I can be able to feed my family like I have been doing these few days.’

Aside the boom in black market, The Hope also gathered that some filling stations were selling the fuel at N250 only at midnight, between the hours of 12am and 3am to evade government task force team.

A commercial driver, Mr. Niyi said that it had been difficult getting the product and he and many other had settled for black market.

“Some are selling their fuel at N250 – N300 per littre. Even though a friend of mine bought five litres at N5, 000, that is N1, 000 per litre.