![[Video] Long queue surfaces as fuel scarcity returns to Abuja](https://thenewsguru.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/fuel-scarcity.png)
Residents and car owners in Abuja are experiencing significant pain as fuel scarcity returns, resulting in long queues at filling stations.
Since Thursday evening, major filling stations have been without fuel, leaving residents unable to purchase petrol.
The few filling stations that have fuel are plagued by long queues, increasing frustration and inconvenience for the community.
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Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele, has assured Nigerians that the fuel crisis experienced in the country will soon be a thing of the past.
Bamidele gave this assurance in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of the Oil Technology Conference (OTC) in Houston, Texas, on Friday.
According to him, the legislature is working tirelessly to ensure that fuel scarcity and frequent queues at filling stations are resolved.
He said that there were plans to involve more private-sector players in the construction of new refineries.
“The Senate is working to ensure that more private-sector players are licensed to own and operate refineries.
“This is to support other smaller ones that are springing up in several parts of the country.
“In addition to licensing new refinery operators, the Federal Government and Senate are working to ensure that the existing refineries are turned around with repairs and replacement of parts carried out where necessary.
Bamidele said the Senate had gotten assurance from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd., (NNPC Ltd.) that two of its refineries in Warri and Port Harcourt would come on stream before the end of the year.
He also noted that the commitment to licensing new refinery operators and revitalising existing refineries remained vital for increasing domestic oil production.
Opeyemi maintained that the focus was to ensure that Nigeria meets its OPEC production quota.
He explained that achieving such milestones would provide more revenue for the government and halt lack and borrowings.
By enhancing local refinery capacity, the Senator said that the country could reduce its dependence on fuel imports, leading to a potential decrease in petrol prices.
He explained that what drives pricing is the ability to meet demand in the face of every product, finding its level and place in a free market.
Also speaking, the Chairman, Senate Committee of Downstream, Sen. Ifeanyi Ubah, said the last Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) that happened at the refineries was about 15 years ago, which led to the comatose state of the facility.
Ubah said that the non-deregulation of the downstream sector had put undue pressure on NNPC Ltd., as the entire industry depends on company for its petroleum needs.
He pointed out that no country could meet its energy needs by having a single entity; importing its petroleum product needs.
However, to be self-sufficient, Ubah urged the government to create a cluster of five to eight modular refineries within the riverine communities.
The Police Command in Lagos State has identified the officer who allegedly shot a man dead at a filling station in the Obalende area of the state.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the development in a post he shared on his verified X handle@ benHundeyin on Thursday.
He said that the officer had been identified.
“The person behind the shooting has been identified as a police officer serving at Special Protection Unit (SPU) Base 17, Lion Building, Lagos.
“Investigation is still ongoing and further findings will be made available, ” he said.
According to Hundeyin, the State Commissioner of Police, CP Adegoke Fayoade is working with the family of the deceased to ensure that there is no miscarriage of justice.
It could be recalled that the deceased, Toheeb Eniasa, was shot dead by a policemam on Wednesday while struggled to buy fuel.
It was learnt that two officers drove into the station to purchase fuel but motorists asked them to join the queue.
In the process, an argument ensured which resulted into a fight and one of the officers shot Eniasa and ran away.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Depot Chairmen Forum has exonerated its members from the current fuel scarcity in the country.
According to IPMAN, the current fuel scarcity in the country is caused by inability to source petroleum products.
The IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum also threatened to withdraw its services over non-payment of N200 billion bridging claims by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to its members, since 2022.
Alhaji Yahaya Alhassan, the Chairman, of the Forum said this while briefing newsmen on Tuesday in Abuja.
Alhassan said the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) was the sole importer of the product, but the marketers could not source products from NNPC Ltd. deport, rather from the private depots at high rate.
“We cannot buy fuel from the private depots at N950 and transport the product from Lagos to the North and other parts of the country with N2 million and still sell it at N900 or N1, 000.
“It is expedient for us to state that we are more pained by the non-availability of petroleum products in the country, which has given rise to another round of untold hardship for Nigerians.
“Contrary to claims that IPMAN members are hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as fuel, we would like to categorically state that PMS scarcity is wholly triggered by inability to get fuel from NNPC and not IPMAN,’’ he said.
Meanwhile, the NNPC Ltd. Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye said the disruption was due to logistical issues which had since been resolved.
“We currently have an availability of products exceeding 1.5 billion litres, which can last for at least 30 days. Unfortunately, we experienced a three-day disruption in distribution due to logistical issues, which has since been resolved.
“However, as you know, overcoming such disruptions typically requires double the amount of time to return to normal operations.
“Some folks are taking advantage of this situation to maximise profits. Thankfully, product scarcity has been minimal lately, but these folks might be exploiting the situation for unwarranted gain,’’ Soneye said.
He however, said the lines would clear out soon.
On the non-payment of bridging claims, the IPMAN forum said it was distressed and depressed by the laidback attitude of the NMDPRA towards the survival its member’s businesses, arising from its refusal in paying the claims.
“It is with deep frustration that we have assembled here today as the IPMAN Depot Chairmen Forum. It is also disheartening to note that some of our members have completely shut down businesses and retrenched employees.
“As businessmen and women, our members acquired bank loans to keep their fuel retail outlets running on a daily basis across the nooks and crannies of Nigeria in order to serve the teeming population of Nigerians,’’ Alhassan said.
He recalled that Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State Petroleum Resources (Oil), at a stakeholders meeting in February mandated the NMDPRA management to clear the entire debt in 40 days.
“However, today, we have crossed the 40 days’ time lapse given to the NMDPRA to clear the debt, and it is shameful to state that only the paltry sum of N13 billion has been paid, ignoring minister’s directive.
“We are not happy with the indiscriminate increment in the issuance and renewal of Sales and Storage Licence, by the NMDPRA, and the subsequent delays in acquiring the licence, which our members are recently subjected to.
“We are also calling on President Bola Tinubu to look into this unwholesome figure which is highly detrimental to our business and reverse it forthwith, as it is bound to impact negatively on the masses.
“We are poised to take far reaching decisions that may cripple the supply and sales of petroleum products across Nigeria if our demands are not met within the shortest period of time.
“We are collectively prepared to withdraw our services, shut down every single outlet, and suspend lifting of products forthwith till our demands are fully met, and the consequences will be terrible.
“We call on our members to however remain resolute and law abiding, even as we draw close to the immediate ultimatum for our demands to be met by the NMDPRA,’’ the chairman said.
Reacting to the IPMAN’s claims, the Acting Head, Corporate Communications, NMDPRA, Seiyefa Osanebi said the bridging claims payment was ongoing.
“The bridging claims payment is always an ongoing process,” she said.
Petrol scarcity has crippled socio-economic activities in Kano and its environs, with residents wasting many man-hours looking for fuel.
The situation has forced motorists to abandon their routine schedules to search for petrol at filling stations.
The development is also telling on the city’s socio-economic lives as many of the residents have closed their business premises, while others have suspended their planned visits to friends and relations.
Most of the streets in the metropolis have been deserted while many motorists have abandoned their cars due to fuel scarcity.
Some residents were forced to trek long distances to reach their various destinations as there are few commercial vehicles on the roads.
It was also observed that students of secondary and tertiary Institutions have resorted to trekking due to the shortage of commercial vehicles on the roads.
Black market Petrol vendors have capitalised on the situation to sell a gallon of fuel at N6,000.
Alhaji Abubakar Shehu of Dorayi quarters, told NAN that he spent nothing less than 11 hours in a queue at a filling station to buy fuel.
Shehu decried the situation and called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to urgently address the problem.
Isa Musa, a civil servant, said he had to opt for a ride to go to his office, after spending almost two hours at the bus stop.
“Public buses became so scarce this morning, and I just ordered a ride to take me to my office at an exorbitant cost.
“I would have turned back to go home but I have a very important meeting to attend and it was almost time for the meeting,” he said.
Another civil servant, who gave his name as Rakiya Musa, said “the federal government should declare a state of emergency on the current scarcity of the petroleum products, saying it has crippled socio-economic activities across the country.
“Transportation fares have gone up within days of this fuel scarcity. How do they want us to survive,” Musa asked.
Abdulmuni Isa, a commercial vehicle operator, said: “Increasing the transportation fare is the only way out for us transporters because to get fuel these days is not easy.
“You will notice that most filling stations in Kano are now out of stock, leaving long queues of vehicles stretching into distances in some NNPC stations,” Isa added.
When contacted, the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Kano chapter, Alhaji Gana Girigire, blamed the NNPCL for the petrol scarcity
“It is not our fault, we have sent over 100 trucks to various centers where we buy this commodity, but it is not available,” he said.
As fuel scarcity and long queues persist, commuters in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) witness a hike in the cost of transportation, and many are stranded.
Some commuters narrated their experiences in separate interviews on Tuesday in Abuja.
According to them, the situation presents more days of uncertainty and frustration, thus urgently calling for Federal Government’s intervention.
Many parts of the city, known for its bustling streets and vibrant life, have been gripped by long queues snaking around filling stations.
This is as citizens wait patiently for a chance to fill up their tanks.
Mr Ahmed Tanko, a civil servant, said Nigerians keenly felt the impact of the fuel scarcity on their daily lives.
“Transport fares have skyrocketed, leaving many struggling to afford the cost of commuting to work or school.
“I used to spend N400 on transport to work, but now I have to pay almost double that amount.
“The new month (May) has not started, and the cost of transport is almost gulping most of the salaries that were paid in the previous month,” he said.
Similarly, Mrs Angela Adebe, a teacher, said she may be forced to leave her job as her meagre salary could not transport her to work and care for her family.
Adebe said:” I am a poor widow with three children. All I have as a source of livelihood is my teaching job.
“With this instability in our economy, things are already bad, but we have been managing.
“Now the high cost of transportation due to the recent fuel scarcity is like adding petrol to a burning fire. If things persist, I may have to quit my job.
“Honestly, it is too much for me to handle. The authorities must act quickly because if I lose my job, how will my children survive?”
Also, Mr James Akar, an office driver, said he used to pay N500 from his house in Orozo, a suburb, to the town, but he pays N700 to the town today.
“I am wondering what the cost will be as I close from work and even tomorrow.
“Planning has become very difficult for us salary earners. I am sure it is also not any better for business people because there is no money in circulation,” he said.
Meanwhile, Mr Amos Danlami, a commuter, said he had to use public transportation to work after queuing at a station for hours without getting fuel the previous day.
Danlami said: “I think this scarcity has become an excuse for marketers to exploit poor Nigerians.
“The worst of it is the blame game between the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).
“Nigerians no longer know whose theory to believe, and if I am asked, their tales do not really matter to Nigerians.
“What matters most is for the Federal Government to look into the situation and find an immediate solution for the benefit of poor citizens,” he said.
On her part, Ms Fatima Sule, a student who relies on public transportation to get to her university, the narrative is no different from others.
Sule prayed for the government’s intervention in the fuel crises and the increasing cost of living in the country.
Mrs Veronica David, a mother of four, said, “In spite of the NNPC’s assurances that fuel scarcity is being addressed, the reality on the ground tells a different story.
“I have been to several filling stations, and the queues are endless except for the black marketers selling by the side of the stations whose products cannot be trusted.
“I don’t know how long we can endure this hardship.”
Also, a businessman, Mr Amaechi Nwaneri, also reiterated the need for government’s action to tackle the issue of long queues at fuel stations.
“With the economic inflation rate soaring at 33.2 per cent in March, the impact of fuel scarcity on the cost of living cannot be ignored.
“We are already struggling to make ends meet, and this fuel scarcity is worsening things.
“The fuel scarcity crisis in Abuja is a stark reminder of the need for accountability and transparency in managing Nigeria’s oil resources.
“Until concrete steps are taken to address the root causes of the crisis, the people of Abuja will continue to suffer, their lives disrupted by forces beyond their control,” he said.
Nwaneri urged the Federal Government to prioritise the welfare of its citizens and tackle the situation.
Some residents of Badagry in Lagos State were stranded on Tuesday as most commercial vehicles plying the area were off the road due to scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise called petrol.
A correspondent, who monitored the situation, reports that many workers and businessmen were sighted waiting endlessly at some bus stops due to unavailability of vehicles.
The situation led to hike in transport fare as a litre of petrol in the area now sells as high as N1,000, while fare rose from N800 to N1, 500 from Badagry to Mile 2.
At some popular bus stations in Badagry – Aradagun, Mowo and Agemowo, scores of residents were seen struggling to enter a few available taxis and commercial buses.
Mr Johnson Afilaka, a Badagry resident, said he could not go to work on Monday due to increase in transport fare from Badagry to Mile 2.
“Today, we have queued up for buses, but none has come. A few taxis that came raised their fares so high.
“Government should come to our aid in Badagry by providing some of the Lagos BRT buses for us here,” he said.
Mrs Christiana Adigun, a staff of the National Population Commission (NPC), said she could not drive to her office due to difficulty in getting petrol for her car.
She said that in spite of the fact that she was willing to buy a litre at N1,000, it was difficult to get the product, adding that getting a commercial vehicle to her office also posed another challenge.
On sales of petrol in Badagry, NAN reports that only the NNPC fuel station at Aradagun and Mobil fuel station in Badagry were selling at official prices of N568 and N610 respectively.
However, other independent marketers with fuel stations were selling between N950 and N1,000 per litre.
Mr Friday Ajasa, a motorist, said his car had been on the queue at NNPC Aradagun since 7.00.a.m, adding that as at 12.00.noon, he was yet to get the product.
“When we blame government for the scarcity, we should as well blame petrol marketers in Badagry for the hike because they are not helping the situation.
“Some of the cars on queue at the fuel stations in Badagry belong to cross- border illegal petrol dealers who usually take the product to Benin Republic to re-sell.
“Most of the major marketers here prefer to sell to them rather than sell to residents and this is the height of unpatriotic conduct.
“When these people enter, they buy up to 350 litres of petrol inside one car, and for us who just wanted 15 litres in our vehicles, they will tell you that petrol has finished,” he said.
Mrs Funke Alabi, a motorist on queue at Mobil filling station, called on security agents to check excesses of petrol pump attendants in the area.
Explaining the reason for petrol scarcity, Alhaji Abdul-Ganiyu Adelani, the Chairman, Independent Petroleum Marketers, Badagry, blamed the scarcity on lack of product at NNPC tank farm.
Adelani urged the NNPC to make available more petrol in their tank farms so that all filling stations in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria would get enough supply.
Filling stations in Abuja and its environs have unofficially increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) known as fuel as scarcity of the product bites harder.
A correspondent on Tuesday reported that the fuel stations that had products were selling between N850 and N1,000 per litre, while the black marketers are selling at N1,300 and N1,400 per litre.
In spite of the adjustment, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) maintained its price of N617.
The development has caused long queues at NNPC Ltd. retail outlets at Zone 1, Mega station near Church Gate, Jahi and others along Kubwa express.
It would be recalled that long queues surfaced in the FCT following low distribution of fuel to different stations due to logistics.
NNPC Ltd. had said in a statement on Thursday that the cause of the scarcity, which they described as “tightness in fuel supply”, had been resolved.
However, along Karshi-Jukwoyi road, Fuel Smart, Mobil, NIPCO and many other independent marketers are selling the product in their fuelling stations between N850 and N1,000.
Conoil and TotalEnergies opposite NNPC Ltd. Towers sell at N660 but with long queues.
At Kubwa, majority of the fuelling stations are closed because of lack of the product.
Eterna and Ammasco at the Kubwa second gate, along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway are yet to be supplied with the product.
Only NIPCO fuelling station opposite the Eterna station has fuel but with long queue.
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Osun has warned petroleum marketers in the state against hoarding of the products.
The agency also warned residents of the state against panic buying, hoarding and storing of petroleum products at home.
Mr Adekunle Adeyemo, the State Coordinator of NMDPRA, gave the warning while speaking with journalists on Monday in Osogbo.
Adeyemo said that the surveillance team of the agency would be all out to ensure that no filling stations hoard the product.
He said that any marketers caught hoarding the fuel or engage in any form of sharp practices would be dealt with in accordance with the dictates of the law.
Adeyemo promised that the agency would intensify its monitoring and surveillance of outlets in line with its regulatory mandate to ensure compliance with quality, quantity and safety of operations.
According to him, government is doing everything possible to ensure adequate availability of the product, and it will be unfair for independent marketers who have the product in stock to be hoarding it.
“We want to appeal to independent marketers who have petroleum products in stock to stop hoarding.
“It will be inhuman for those who have the product to be hoarding and inflating the pump price.
“The surveillance team of the agency is already out to ensure that those who have the product are dispensing it to motorists at reasonable price.
“However, any filling station caught hoarding the product with the view of inflicting pains on the masses will not be spared.
“Yes, there might be a little challenge in the supply process, but relevant government agencies are doing everything possible to ensure that the situation is normalise.
“We will not fold our hands while some few individuals will inflicting undue pain on the residents of the state by hoarding the products,’’ he said.
Adeyemo appealed to petroleum marketers to always adhere strictly to standard safety practices in their filling stations.
He warned that any marketer that violates the standard procedure would be dealt with according to the law.
Adeyemo also appealed to consumers to report sharp practices such as under-dispensing, to the agency for appropriate action.
The NMDPRA boss also warned against storing petroleum products at homes, adding that such can cause a fire outbreak.
He said that people needed to be very careful with how they handle petroleum products.
“Storing of petroleum product at home can result in a fire outbreak, which can lead to the destruction of lives and property.
“We have to be wise, there’s no reason for panic buying or hoarding of the product because government is doing everything possible towards adequate supply of the product,’’ he said.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) says the issues that led to the tightness in the supply of fuel currently being experienced in some parts of the country have been resolved.
The NNPC Ltd. said that the issues were as a result of logistics problems.
The Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd. Olufemi Soneye, made the disclosure on Thursday while reacting to the situation.
Soneye reiterated that the prices of petroleum products were not changing.
“The NNPC Ltd. wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of PMS currently being experienced in some areas across the country is as a result of logistics issues and that they have been resolved.
“The NNPC Ltd. urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there is a sufficiency of products in the country,” he assured.
Motorists in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have expressed worry over the long queues being presently experienced at fuel stations due to scarcity of PMS.
The independent marketers sell between N680 and N800 per litre, while the NNPC Ltd. retail outlets maintain its pump price of N617 per litre.
The black marketers are also seen along the roads and in front of fuel stations making brisk business, selling above N1, 000 per litre of fuel.
Some of the motorists have expressed sadness at the inconsistency and unavailability of fuel and its associated high price in the country and appealed to the Federal Government to urgently resolve whatever the issues were.