The fuel shortage in Nigeria has taken a turn for the worse as numerous tankers have swarmed depots in Lagos, waiting to load Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol. The scarcity of the product has led to widespread fuel queues across major cities in the country, including Abuja, Lagos, and other states, with no immediate relief in sight.
On Monday, oil marketers confirmed that some tankers had started loading petrol, but the supply provided by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) remained insufficient to meet the growing demand.
The National President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Abubakar Maigandi, expressed concern over the situation, stating, “We depend on the supply of products from NNPC. If they supply us, we will deliver to our filling stations. However, many of our trucks are still waiting at depots, especially in Lagos.”
Despite efforts by the NNPC to address the fuel supply challenges, the situation has yet to improve significantly. Long queues were observed at several filling stations in Lagos on Monday, a problem that has been recurring in recent weeks.
The NNPC had earlier promised that the queues would clear by mid-week, with the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, assuring Nigerians that the scarcity was due to “an evacuation challenge out of Apapa.” He added, “We are working on it, and I’m very sure that fuel scarcity will be cleared out by Wednesday.”
However, operators within the downstream oil sector remain skeptical about the NNPC’s ability to resolve the crisis quickly. The National Publicity Secretary of IPMAN, Chief Ukadike Chinedu, highlighted additional challenges faced by the sector, including disruptions caused by recent nationwide protests. “Aside from the fact that there is not enough supply, the recent protests disrupted activities in the downstream oil sector. We are still struggling to sort that one out, and there is also the challenge of low supply of petrol,” Chinedu explained.
As the fuel scarcity persisted, black market activities flourished, with petrol being sold for as much as N1,400 per liter in some parts of Lagos. The situation also led to a significant increase in transportation costs, leaving many commuters stranded at bus stops and motor parks as they struggled to find affordable means of transport. Some car owners reported parking their vehicles and opting for commercial transportation to avoid the long fuel queues.
In response to inquiries about when the queues might clear, Maigandi remained cautious, stating, “I cannot say anything about that for now because it depends on the way fuel is being released. So, it depends on the supply from NNPC.”
The fuel shortage has not only affected Lagos but also other parts of the country. Reports indicate that in Anambra State, the price of petrol soared to N980 per liter, with some black market operators selling at even higher rates. The situation has caused transportation fares to fluctuate, impacting the prices of essential commodities such as food.
In Oyo State, a price check revealed that petrol was being sold for N850 per liter at some filling stations in the capital, Ibadan, while NNPC sub-stations offered the product at a slightly lower rate of N580 per liter. Similar conditions were reported in states like Osun, Edo, and Bauchi, where residents expressed frustration over the rising cost of petrol and the difficulties in accessing the product.
The ongoing fuel crisis has left many Nigerians anxious about the coming days, with some industry insiders suggesting that the scarcity may persist until Friday. “Loading is still epileptic,” a source at Apapa depot stated. “We loaded a bit today, but it is still not up to the expected target. The scarcity may remain with us till Friday.”
Despite the NNPC’s efforts to manage the situation, including an appeal for understanding from Nigerians by its Executive Vice President, Downstream, Mr. Dapo Segun, the fuel queues and high prices continue to dominate daily life in many parts of the country. As the crisis drags on, it remains to be seen whether the NNPC can deliver on its promise to restore normalcy to the fuel supply chain in the coming days.