Some residents attributed the development to alleged plan by tanker drivers to embark on strike while others said dealers were hoarding the product over fear of reduction in pump price.

But yesterday, a mild drama ensued at a petrol station in Tanke Oke-Odo, Ilorin yesterday, as gun wielding soldiers invaded the station and sold fuel to motorists and other users free of charge.

It was learnt that several petrol users had formed a long queue at the station in anticipation of sale of the product, but the station refused to dispense.

Our correspondent reports that the queues disrupted vehicular movement in the affected areas.

Commenting, factional chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Kwara State chapter, Mr Abdulrasheed Olopade, attributed the crisis to non-availability of fuel at NNPC depots in the western zone.

He said only Apapa depot in Lagos was supplying the product. 

Olopade urged the federal government to do something about the situation.