Toxic fuel resurfaces in Benin

Foul-smelling petrol, which aroused nationwide outrage during the regime of the late military dictator, Gen. Sani Abacha has re-emerged in Benin-City and other parts of Edo and Delta States. This is even as the state was still witnessing long queues at the few filling stations that sold petroleum products to buyers.
The resurgence of the popularly called "toxic fuel" might not be unconnected with the recent "open licence" to marketers to import indiscriminately various petroleum products under the deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum industry.

While all manner of petrol is being sold in "black" markets in Benin-City and the peculiarly foul smell oozes from vehicle exhausts, only about 20 % of all major filling stations in the city sold fuel to motorists at all. For example, out of the 10 filling stations only the Total Filling Station sold petrol, leading to more than a kilometre long lines of vehicles and motorcycles.
Travellers from Warri and other parts of Delta alsotold in Benin-City that the toxic fuel was also being sold in the area, stressing that the petrol being sold at about N 1,300 per 10 litre had "strange colours."