There were long queues of vehicles yesterday at the few filling stations selling petrol in the commercial city of Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
It is the same situation in many state capitals, cities and towns across the country.
Major roads in Lagos were empty because motorists did not have petrol to move around.
Black market boomed with the scarcity of the product.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the scarcity of the product to a distribution glitch.
It cautioned against panic buying.
“The NNPC Ltd regrets the tightness in fuel supply witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT, which is as a result of distribution challenges,” Olufemi Soneye, spokesman of the NNPCL said yesterday.
He urged motorists to shun panic buying as it works round the clock with relevant stakeholders to restore normalcy.
He added that the challenge was temporary.
The product sold yesterday for between N840 and N1,000 in many places nationwide.
Lagos:
Fuel queues resurfaced in Lagos as many filling stations ran out of stock, leading to closures and long queues at the stations.
Along Ikorodu Road, many filling stations were not selling.
However, there were long queues at the NNPCL and NIPCO stations at Fadeyi Bus Stop, which sold to commuters.
Along Bank Anthony/Airport Road in Maryland, Total, Northwest, and NNPCL stations were beset by long queues while the Mobil Station at Salami Shaibu in Somolu closed abruptly due to chaotic scenes caused by commercial vehicles.
Illegal fuel hawkers were spotted along Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Gbagada, and Ogba, taking advantage of the situation.
Also, fares paid by commuters along Iyana-Ipaja/ Ikotun rose from N300 to N400. Commuters along Ajao Estate/ Obalende paid N1,000 instead of N800.
A bus driver, Jimoh Saka, who ply the Onipaanu/Ilaje/ Bariga route, spoke on the struggle to obtain fuel, justifying the fare hike from N200 to N300 for trips from Bariga to Onipaanu.
He said: “The increase in transport costs is not our fault. We sleep at petrol stations just to buy fuel and continue our business. Things are hard, and people should understand it is not our fault.”
Another driver, Gbenga Saliu, expressed frustration over the stress of waiting in long queues, saying: “It’s seriously stressful.”
At the three NNPCL outlets in the Ojodu-Berger axis, only one had a 45,000-litre truck waiting to discharge its content while anxious motorists formed queues at its entrance causing traffic snarls.
The RainOil petrol station sold to motorists, amid the chaotic queue.
From Berger through Alapere to Iyana Oworonshoki, to Anthony on Ikorodu Road, none of the filling stations opened for business. TotalEnergies, ConOil, AP, and Heyden on Ilupeju Bypass, were all closed.
Abuja
Petrol remained scarce in the Federal Capital Territory ( FCT) yesterday.
The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) President, Dr. Billy Harry attributed the shortage to a “supply challenge.”
Apart from some NNPCL retail outlets, only a few independent filling stations sold the product.
While NNPCL sold for N617 per litre, some independent marketers sold for between N625 per litre to N996 per litre.
Black marketers sold 10 litres at N1,000 per litre for N11,000 in plastic containers.
Some drivers sacrificed their Sunday worship for petrol sourcing, leaving their homes as early as 6:00am to queue in different stations.
Plateau
Many filling stations in Jos, Plateau State capital, did not open.
Commercial drivers expressed worry over the scarcity, and hiked the price at the few stations dispensing the product
Motorists said they bought the product for N950 per litre at independent oil marketers’ stations and N620 at NNPCL stations in the metropolis.
A commercial driver, Pam John, said he would rather join the queue at the NNPCL station instead of paying over N900 for a litre.
Another motorist, Kateng David, said he parked his car because he could not afford to buy a litre of petrol for over N900.
Along Bauchi Road, a station sold the product for N900; while at A.A. Rano Station, petrol was dispensed at N730.
An independent oil marketer in Jos, who pleaded anonymity, attributed the supply shortage to marketers’ reluctance to bring the product from Lagos because of the possibility of the price crashing when Dangote Refinery begins supplying to the market.
According to him, marketers buy petrol for N900 per litre in Jos and sell for N950 after considering transportation costs.
Black marketers are in brisk business as a gallon of the product is sold for N5,000, while a litre is sold for N1,250.
Akure
Fuel scarcity hit, Akure, the Ondo State capital, with the price rising to between N800 and N900 per litre.
Some major marketers sold for between N600 and 680 per litre.
Sources said the non-availability of fuel was due to low sales of fuel to independent marketers.
Osun
Due to scarcity in Osogbo, the capital of Osun State, a few independent marketers sold for N900 per litre.
Many stations were shut while others sold for between N850 to N900.
There were queues at the NNPC stations in Lameko and Abere areas.
Similarly, there were long queues at NIPCO stations in Ogo-Oluwa, Technical and Lameco areas.
Also, Ilesa, Ile-Ife and Ikirun experienced fuel scarcity.
Owerri
As the pump price rose to N950 per litre in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, transport fares rose by 100 per cent.
“This is a nightmare for us drivers,” said Emeka Uzoma, a commercial driver. “Our income hasn’t increased, but fuel prices have doubled. We’re struggling to survive.”
Commuters are also feeling the pinch. “I’m a student, and my transport fare has doubled,” lamented Nneoma Okorie, who added: “This sudden increase will affect my ability to attend classes. The government needs to act fast to address this crisis.”
Transporters appealed to the Federal Government to intervene, while residents fear potential protests and disruptions.
A resident who simply gave his name as Jonathan urged the authorities to address the crisis and regulate prices to ensure affordable transportation.
Rivers
Filling stations in Port Harcourt, Rivers State sold a litre for between N890 to N900.
Many of the filling stations were not open, a situation that created some queues in others.
At the popular Ada George Road, only one filling station was open.
Residents complained about the rising cost of fuel and appealed to the government to reduce the price.
A resident, who identified himself as Adulphus, said many filling stations in his area did not open for business.
Katsina
Fuel price jumped to N1,050 in Katsina, leading to increased transport fare
At Dan Manna filling station, a motorcyclist, Abdulkadir Mohammed, said the situation was worse as most passengers now preferred trekking.
He said: “The government must do something about the fuel situation; the people are suffering.’’
Akwa Ibom
Consumers groaned in Akwa Ibom State following the hike in the price to N970 per litre.
The NNPC filling station along Ikot Ekpene Road sold the product at N840 per litre.
Some filling stations have remained closed.
A fuel pump attendant in one of the stations in Uyo, the state capital, said the proprietor of the station cannot afford to restock the product.
He complained about low patronage as one of the reasons why some filling stations were out of business.
Ekiti
Motorists and commuters in Ekiti State lamented the increase in the pump price, which has been fluctuating at stations across the state.
Most independent petrol stations visited in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, sold petrol for between N850 to N900/litre while major marketers sold for between N650 and 680 per litre.
The situation has forced motorists to jerk up the transportation fare.
A motorist simply identified as Yaro, who plies the Ado Ekiti/ Ilesha route, lamented the situation, saying he purchased fuel at the rate of N850 in a private petrol station in Ado-Ekiti.
Jigawa
Filing stations sold petrol for N950 per litre in Dutse, the state capital, and many towns in the state.
Enugu
In Enugu and its environs, petrol was sold for between N880 and N920 per litre and N1,300 on the black market.
But the product was available in most petrol stations in the Enugu metropolis.
Mobil, Total, among other mega stations sold for between N690 and N760 per litre.
The hike in the pump price of PMS has led to an increase in transport fare by commercial drivers, as those plying Agbani Road / Holy Ghost Roads, who charged N200, increased the fare to N400.
From Obiagu to Ogui Road, passengers who previously paid N100 paid N200 yesterday.
Ogun
Scarcity hit Abeokuta, the state capital, where petrol was sold for between N850 and N900.
Major marketers like MRS near the Grammar School in Oke Igbein area of Abeokuta did not open.
But AP in the Adatan area of Abeokuta sold for N635 while Fatgbems located near the NNPC Mega station area sold for N645.
However, a long queue was observed at the NNPC mega station beside Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library(OOPL), Abeokuta because it was dispensing the product to consumers at N580 per litre.
In Ijebu Ode, BOVAS filling station sold a litre for N665 while others sold for between N850 and N900 per litre.
Anambra
The price of fuel hit N950 in Anambra State at most filling stations.
Black marketers sold a litre for between N1000 and N1,200
The situation led to a hike in transport fares.
One of the commuters who spoke with The Nation Sunday, Stella Achikwu, said a journey from Awka to Achina in Aguata where she used to spend N1,500 now costs between N6,700 and N7,100.
Asaba
Scarcity of petroleum products resurfaced in Asaba and its environs, forcing a spike in pump prices and long queues at many filling stations.
With many filling stations under lock and key, pump price increased to between N815 snxN900 per litre.
Although the NNPC mega station along the Benin- Onitsha Expressway sold at N591 per litre to motorists, there were long queues.
Oyo
In many petrol stations in Ibadan, the Oyo State, capital city and its environs, there was no fuel.
The majority of the stations were under lock and key as the attendants claimed they did not have the product.
The few independent marketers sold at different prices which ranged from N680 to N920 per litre.
The NNPC stations that sold at N580 per litre had long queues.
Edo
Most filling stations in Benin and its environs sold at N880 per litre without any queue.
However, the independent marketers sold at N900 per litre in Benin and its environs.
The product was available at most filling stations, but motorists complained about the high price.
Cross River State
The NNPCL price was N591 naira per litre, while North West Petroleum, an independent private marketer, sold for N650 per litre.
Other marketers sold between N650, N700 and N750. Some sold for N800 and N900.
On the black market, it was sold for between N1,200 to N1,500.
A female Taxi driver and Chairman of the Female Taxi Drivers Association in Cross River, Ms Philomena Ifeoma Asibe, said the solution is to bring back subsidy to stabilise fuel prices.
She said: “Some days, we buy fuel, go out and we cannot make any profit or even get the capital back. The solution is that they should bring back our fuel subsidy. The only way to stabilise fuel price is to return fuel subsidy.”
A taxi driver, Mr Ettah Godson, said: “Fuel is now N900 in my area. I bought fuel for N8000 and the whole day I made N6,000. The government needs to do something.
“The fuel is there, but it is too expensive. We can’t buy much and the passengers won’t accept to pay according to the fuel price.”
Jalingo
Some petrol stations sold the product while others were closed. Fuel was sold for N930 per litre.
Minna
Minna, the capital of Niger State, was not hit by fuel scarcity, although a litre sold for between N780 and N950 at various filling stations.
At Rano and Shafa filling stations, fuel was sold for N820; at Rainoil, it was sold for N780. Other non-independent marketers sold for between N900 and N950.
Also, NNPC sold a litre for N617, amid long queues.
Ebonyi
In Ebonyi, the product sold for between N830 and N850. However, it sold for N900 on the black market.
However, the NNPC filling station along the Abakaliki-Enugu highway sold fuel for N600. There were long queues.
Also, the Total filling station on the old Ogoja Road sold at a cheaper rate.
Sokoto
Most filling stations in the Sokoto metropolis did not sell.
At the independent marketers’ filling stations, commuters paid N1,000 for a litre,
The NNPCL mega station along Kano-Gusau Road sold at N620 per litre amid long queues.
Residents resorted to trekking to their destinations.
Delta
Major marketers sold for N900 per litre at filling stations in Warri, Effurun and its environs.
Some fuel stations reportedly sold petrol for N1,170 in the Uvwie council area.
Despite the high cost, the product was not readily available at fuel stations.
A commercial vehicle operator who claimed to have bought a litre at N1,170 said he had to do so after failing to get fuel at two other stations visited.
Also, a resident of Warri who bought the product at N920 per litre, said most fuel stations in the Warri/Effurun metropolis were selling above N900 per litre.
Abia
Some petrol stations in Abia State sold a litre for between N930 and N960.
Some of the petrol station owners attributed the hike to the cost of purchase and transportation to their dump.
In Aba, Total Energy and the only NNPCL outlet were without products.
Some tricycle operators said the NNPCL outlet on Asa Road, near Cemetery Market, sold for ₦596 per litre.
[TheNation]