There is petrol sarcity in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, and its environs.

It is the first since President Muhammadu Buhari assumed office in May.

Long queues were common yesterday at many filling stations in Ilorin and nearby towns.

Residents, especially motorists, did not see the scarcity coming.

It was gathered that a new price suggested by private fuel tank owners in Lagos caused the scarcity.

Some motorists, who were caught unawares, were stranded.

Most of them decried the scarcity, urging the government to ensure that it does not degenerate into another crisis.

Many commuters were stranded because only few commercial vehicles were on the roads.

Some independent marketers said they had been asked to pay extra N3 per litre by depot owners in Lagos before their trucks would be loaded.

They said acceding to their demand would jeopardise their business.

One of the independent marketers, who spoke in confidence, said: "I sent some of my trucks to Lagos on Tuesday to buy at the usual rate of N81 per litre. We would add another N5 to that for transportation from Lagos to Ilorin so that the landing cost would be N86 per litre. We can sell at N87 and collect the Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF). But we were told yesterday to add extra N3 per litre. I told my drivers to wait.

"We only began to notice it on Wednesday evening because there was not supposed to be any scarcity at all. I think those people just want to frustrate government's efforts because there is no way we can claim anything, if we agree to buy from them at that rate.