- Kerosene Scarcity Persists in Rivers
Residents of Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, and its environs are currently facing tough times as a result of scarcity of kerosene.
Filling stations on Ada George Road, Garrison, Waterlines, Azikiwe and Moscow Road (all in Port Harcourt) have not been selling the petroleum product, which is commonly used by many families in the state.
While some residents have resorted to using firewood, others not using gas are said to be patronising black marketeers, who purchase in wholesale from dealers reportedly involved in illegal oil bunkering.
A Port Harcourt resident, who gave her name as Precilia, told our correspondent that though she would have resorted to buying adulterated kerosene since she could not get the product from the filling stations, her fear of explosion had forced her to manage firewood.
She called on agencies involved in the supply of kerosene to make the product available in order to discourage the patronage of black marketeers, who deal in dangerous adulterated kerosene.
Precilia recalled how her neighbour escaped death when her cooking stove exploded due to the use of adulterated kerosene.
She said, “If you want to be sure that you are not buying adulterated kerosene,then you have to buy the product at the filling stations. The colour of the adulterated or not well refined kerosene is not clear.
The Media Relations Officer of Port Harcourt Refinery, Mr. Ikenna Okpani, expressed surprise when our correspondent informed him about the scarcity of kerosene in Port Harcourt and its environs.
Okpani said in a telephone interview on Thursday that the refinery had been pushing out kerosene that would be enough for consumers, adding that the scarcity could be as a result of haulage problems.
“I have checked and I can tell you that there is no problem from our end here (Port Harcourt Refinery). We have been producing kerosene. I suspect the scarcity could be as a result of haulage problems,” he stressed.
