In numerous Nigerian states, residents now face long petrol queues, crowded bus stops, traffic, and increased transport fares. As a result, people are turning to purchasing petrol in jerrycans, or ‘kegs,’ as black market prices skyrocket towards N2000 per liter. Sources finding reveal motorists waiting in lines that stretch for hours, only to be denied fuel due to supply shortages, despite NNPC Ltd’s assurances that logistics issues have been resolved. A senior oil executive from Nigeria’s downstream sector predicts an end to the petrol scarcity before the week concludes, attributing the issue to logistics operations difficulties within NNPC Ltd.
The source predicts that within the next week or so, NNPC should restore supply, and by another week, normalcy should be reestablished. They added that the NNPC Group CEO has assured improvements in the supply chain as their vessels are arriving. Meanwhile, Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), stated that their members currently lack access to petroleum products.
Gillis-Harry, representing retail outlet owners and PETROAN members, shared his perspective, stating, “Our challenge is that we do not have access to the product.” On Channels TV’s Morning Brief breakfast program, he continued, “Once the product is available in all depots and we receive our allocations, we will support NNPC’s efforts to ensure all stations are well-supplied consistently.” He added that in recent weeks, NNPC has made efforts to load barges for everyone, including NNPC stations, PETROAN members, and IPMAN members, distributing products gradually to their respective stations.
In Isolo, near Jakande Gate, sources discovered that only Northwest and Total filling stations were dispensing fuel, while NNPC franchise stations in Lagos remained closed due to insufficient stock. Most filling stations in Ijegun, Lagos State’s local government areas, were locked, causing long queues at the stations providing the product. Tunde Osunlusi, a resident, shared his experience, waiting over two hours at NNPC Ltd in Ikoyi before seeking an alternative. He informed sources.
“The reappearance of long queues at filling stations has caused frustration among motorists, many of whom have resorted to purchasing petrol in kegs from black marketeers.” Lekan Balogun, a driver working for a tier one bank, also faced similar issues, returning to his office without fuel after waiting for over an hour at the TotalEnergies station in Ladipo, Mushin.
A concerned individual stated, “I can’t afford to waste hours waiting just to fill up the tank. But buying from these keg guys…well, let’s just say I hope the quality is alright.” On May 29, 2023, during President Bola Tinubu’s inauguration, fuel subsidies were abolished, leading to a tripling of petrol prices across the country. As per the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the removal of the fuel subsidy aimed to enable the private sector to import petrol, taking over the monopoly of petrol importation from the NNPCL. However, due to private oil companies’ inability to secure foreign exchange for importation, NNPC Ltd has been Nigeria’s sole source of petrol imports for months.
