When you start seeing long queues in fuel stations in cities across the nation, it only means one thing, ‘Fuel Scarcity’.
Nigerians started noticing this long queue and trust my people, they did not need a soothsayer to tell them that trouble lies ahead.
The trend chart on many social media platforms is filled with fuel related hashtags, from #FuelScarity to #Fuel and #NNPC, Nigerians are curious, they want to know the reason behind the scarcity of fuel.
The public outcry is one that could not go unnoticed, in fact, it was so much that the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), was forced to respond.
Olufemi Soneye, the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, in his reaction to the crisis, expressed optimism that the long queues will clear in the coming days.
He noted that NNPC Ltd has adequate stock.
Logistics Issues
In his words, “The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, wishes to clarify that the tightness in the supply of Premium Motor Spirit currently being experienced in some areas across the country is a result of logistics issues and they have been resolved.
“It also wishes to reiterate that prices of petroleum products are not changing.
It urges Nigerians to avoid panic buying as there are sufficient products in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer/Executive Secretary, Major Energy Marketers Association of Nigeria, Mr. Clement Isong, also shared his two cents.
According to Isong, “As the NNPC Ltd said, there were logistics issues and they have been resolved.
Movement Of Goods
The marketers who have fuel, are working round the clock and the queues will be cleared in the coming days.”
However, the shortage of petrol witnessed in Nasarawa, Niger, Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, last week, spread to Lagos, Oyo, Osun and other states, weekend.
This has greatly affected the movement of goods and persons and by extension, the nation’s economy.
In Lagos, motorists and other users woke up yesterday to witness long queues at the few fuel stations that had the product to sell.
On the other hand, many outlets belonging mostly to independent marketers, without the product, were closed.
Black Market
However, some major marketers, including 11 Plc and NNPC Ltd had the product.
But they sold the product at over ₦600 per litre, while the few independent marketers with the product sold it at between ₦650 and ₦700 per litre, depending on location.
Many motorists and other users were compelled by circumstances to patronise black market operators.
But trust Nigerians, these black market traders only saw an opportunity to cash out.
In areas like Bariga, Akoka, and environs they openly sold the product at between ₦900 and ₦1,000 per litre.
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Further checks indicated that transporters increased fares by 100 per cent to cover the high cost of petrol.
For instance, commuters paid ₦2,000 from Mile 12 to Mile 2, a distance that used to cost them ₦1,000, while others paid ₦1,000 from CMS to Mile 2, which previously cost about ₦500.
