Fuel scarcity has resurfaced in most parts of oil-rich Delta State, especially Warri axis with motorists groaning under the effects.

Miffed by the artificial scarcity and its attendant effects, aggrieved members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and Petroleum Tanker Drivers (PTD) in Edo and Delta states, on Friday, swooped on Rainoil depot at Oghara, disrupting activities of the company in the process.

The protest was over an alleged undue increment in the price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) by the depot owner.

The protesters barricaded the entrance of the fuel depot, chanting solidarity songs and preventing tankers belonging to the company from loading.

They alleged that the fuel depot has refused to supply fuel to them except they pay N105: 00 as against the stipulated official N84: 50 price per litre by the Federal Government.

They said the station had been supplying them PMS at N95:00 per liter, but had suddenly jacked it up again by N10:00.

Leaders of the protesters, Comrade Alabi Muyi and Elder Joseph Okolie, while speaking to journalists during the protest, lamented the hardship the independent marketers and the tanker drivers are undergoing as a result of the “outrageous” increase in petroleum product by depot owners.

The duo called on the Petroleum Product Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) as well as the Federal Government to wade into the issue and sanction defaulting depot owners.

 “For the past three weeks, we’ve been paying into Rainoil’s account for PMS. The initial money we paid was N84: 50k after which they said we should pay additional N11: 00 which we complied with because fuel was not available.

"After paying the N11 yesterday (Thursday), they said they could not programme that they have left over on ground. And we left, but on getting here this morning, they said we should go and pay additional N10: 00, making it N21: 00.

"We are all saying no! Our load should be given to us for the N11: 00 we’ve already paid.

“The Rainoil filling stations in Oghara axis are selling for N86.50, but they are selling to us, owners of filling stations, at N105: 00. How do you expect us to sell to the public?

"You can see that at the end of the day, it is the masses that will suffer. So, they should give us what we’ve paid for. Or else, there will not be peace," Comrade Muyi threatened.

The management of Rainoil, as of the time of filing this report, could not be contacted as the company's security men barred journalists from entering the office, saying a management meeting was ongoing.

Meanwhile, most fuel stations in and around Warri have remained shut in the day time while some sell at midnight to black marketers, just as transport fares are gradually rising beyond the reach of ordinary Deltans.

When contacted, head of Public Affairs Unit, DPR, Mr Goddey Agusa, disclosed on phone in a Warri, that the headache of the regulatory body remains recalcitrant depots, adding that efforts were on to checkmate their activities.

He ruled out compromise on the part of DPR as reason for the obstinacy of fuel depots