Fuel shortages have gripped Nigeria as many depots for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, have run dry, leading to long queues and inflated prices in Lagos, Ogun, parts of Abuja, Niger, and other states.
Black market operators have capitalized on the situation, selling fuel at exorbitant rates of N1,300 to N1,500 per liter in Lagos and Ogun states. The scarcity has intensified since Friday, with long queues persisting at fuel stations across the country.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) attributed the distribution problems to a hitch in the discharge operations of several vessels. Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC, assured the public that efforts are underway to resolve the situation and restore normal fuel supply.
Despite these assurances, the situation worsened over the weekend. Reports indicated that many depots in Apapa were not loading trucks on Sunday, exacerbating the scarcity. A depot operator confirmed that supplies were running late, affecting product availability.
In Abuja, fuel was sold at N660 to N800 per liter at a few operational stations, while black marketers charged around N1,200 per liter. Oil marketers revealed they were also facing supply challenges, with many depots lacking sufficient stock.
Hammed Fashola, National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, expressed concern over the shortages, urging the NNPC to ensure direct supply to marketers. He noted that independent marketers were forced to buy from private depots at inflated prices.
Clement Isong, Executive Secretary of the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria, confirmed low stock levels, attributing the issue to challenges in importing fuel. He emphasized that the NNPC, as the sole supplier, must address the situation promptly.
Across Lagos and Ogun, many fuel stations remained closed, with those open witnessing long queues. Black marketers in these areas sold fuel at N1,200 to N1,500 per liter. In Ogun’s border communities, residents turned to black markets due to a ban on fuel supply, where prices reached N1,200 per liter.
The scarcity has also impacted the South-South region, with long queues at stations in Benin City, Edo State. Fuel prices in the state ranged from N591 at NNPC stations to N800 at other outlets.
In northern Nigeria, similar trends were observed. Fuel prices in Gombe ranged from N850 to N1,000 at major stations, with black marketers charging N1,250 per liter. Motorists in Jos, Plateau State, lamented the scarcity and rising costs, which they say are worsening economic hardships.
Residents in Minna, Niger State, and other northern cities reported long queues and inflated prices. Many have resorted to alternative transportation means due to the scarcity. Meanwhile, in Yola, Adamawa State, black marketers sold PMS at N1,000 to N1,200 per liter, further straining the already high cost of living.
The NNPC has yet to provide a timeline for when the fuel supply situation will improve, leaving Nigerians grappling with the ongoing crisis.
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