Petrol supply across Nigeria continues to be erratic, causing many filling stations to remain closed and forcing others to sell petrol at exorbitant prices.
This is according to a Daily Trust investigation.
In the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), some stations in satellite towns are selling petrol for nearly ₦1,000 per litre, while long queues persist at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) outlets that are still dispensing.
Many filling stations have been closed for days, with some reportedly selling petrol for as high as ₦980 per litre. Motorists have been queuing for hours, sometimes overnight, at the few open stations, such as the NNPCL station at Katampe, which sells petrol at the official rate of ₦617 per litre. The situation has been ongoing since before the #EndBadGovernance protest began on 1 August 2024.
In Lagos, NNPCL stations are selling petrol at ₦568 per litre, while other stations, including Mobil and MRS, are dispensing at prices between ₦600 and ₦650 per litre. Commercial drivers have expressed frustration over the scarcity and high prices, which have significantly impacted their businesses. Some drivers have reported buying petrol for as much as ₦950 per litre in other regions like Calabar.
In Kano, independent marketers are selling petrol for ₦950 per litre, while NNPCL stations offer it at ₦620 per litre. Many motorists have opted to queue at NNPCL stations rather than pay the higher prices at independent outlets. The supply shortage has been attributed to marketers’ reluctance to bring fuel from Lagos due to fears that prices may crash when the Dangote Refinery begins operations.
In Maiduguri, most NNPCL stations remain closed, forcing motorists to consider purchasing from independent marketers at ₦950 per litre. The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) in Borno State has linked the supply suspension to the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protest.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticized the federal government and NNPCL for their silence on the persistent fuel scarcity, accusing NNPCL of benefiting from the crisis. HURIWA also suggested that the simultaneous fuel scarcity and challenges faced by the Dangote Refinery could be part of a coordinated effort to maintain NNPCL’s monopoly over the petroleum industry.
NNPCL has not provided any official comment on the situation, despite promises from their spokesperson to address the matter.
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