The current fuel scarcity which returned to major parts of Freetown on Sunday has intensified today with long queues in filling stations across the capital.

The commercial riders and private vehicle owners Sierraloaded spoke to said that some fuel stations are claiming that they do not have enough fuel to dispense to customers.

“Only a few petrol stations like NP and some other majors stations are selling fuel product to us,” Osman Sesay, a Poda Poda driver said.

The situation in some of the fuel stations was chaotic as motorists and other customers struggled to buy petrol.

It was also observed that some of the attendants made side businesses by taking tips from some people before they dispensed the product for those in the queues.

“I have been waiting in this long line for over two hours. The attendants are collecting tips to sell to those with gallons and cans,” Emmanuel Vandy, a private vehicle owner said.

Meanwhile, others are accusing the fuel station owners of wanting to increase the cost of petroleum products from Le18,000 to Le20,000.

“Since this morning, I have been struggling to buy fuel. All this scarcity issue is because they want to increase the price of petrol to Le20,000,” Musa Kamara, a keke rider bemoaned.

One of the petrol attendants at Lumley Sierraloaded spoke to said that the scarcity was caused by short supply of petrol by their suppliers.

According to the attendant, all of the fuel stations in the Western Area are short of stock at the moment.

With the constant hike in prices of fuel, there will be a massive rise in prices of other key commodities as well, and this can add to the hardship and suffering citizens are already battling with.

Transport prices are also doubled and the routes shortened while those who cannot afford the new prices had to trek to and fro their places of work or business on a daily basis.

Meanwhile, Petroleum Regulation Agency (PRA) has not yet released a statement regarding the shortage of fuel in the country.