Fuel shortages have begun affecting Lagos and other Nigerian states. Many motorists waited for hours at the limited number of open petrol stations. The shortage, which first struck Abuja last week, has now spread to Oyo, Osun, Ondo, Edo, Anambra, Enugu, Abia, Benue, Plateau, Kaduna, Katsina, Niger, and Jigawa. D

espite the recent progress in the Federal Capital Territory, the shortage has worsened in other parts of the country.

Petrol stations affiliated with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) were largely closed due to low supplies, though some independent marketers remained open, resulting in long queues.

Even some residents carrying jerry cans joined the long lines.

While independent fuel marketers slightly increased prices, the major oil companies did not. Both NNPCL and the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) attributed the shortage to logistics issues but assured that fuel distribution has resumed, indicating that normalcy could be restored soon.

NNPCL’s Chief Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, stated that the supply disruptions were resolved, explaining that it usually takes 3-5 days for the fuel distribution system to stabilize.

He assured that there is sufficient stock of petrol, and that there’s no reason to panic.

IPMAN’s National President, Abubakar Maigandi, explained that the logistics problem involved transferring fuel from a mother vessel to smaller vessels for delivery to depots.

This led to a delay in distribution, but he noted that these issues had been resolved and the queues should clear by the end of the week.

However, even as marketers began to transport petrol to depots, the scarcity was felt acutely across various states. In Lagos, queues at petrol stations like Mobil, North West, NIPCO, and TotalEnergies stretched for long distances.

Some motorists resorted to buying from black-market vendors, with prices soaring in some areas.

In places like Oyo, Anambra, Kaduna, and others, petrol was sold at inflated prices. Independent marketers in Ibadan, for example, sold petrol at odd hours, with some stations in other states selling petrol for over N700 per liter.

The scarcity has led to some warnings against hoarding, with authorities in Osun announcing a taskforce to combat the issue. Despite the efforts to alleviate the crisis, black-market prices remained high in several areas.

In Jos, many car owners opted to park their vehicles due to high costs, while others paid as much as N1,000 per liter in some black-market outlets.

As efforts to restore normalcy continue, industry leaders have called for calm, urging consumers to avoid panic buying.

The NNPCL and other stakeholders maintain that supply levels are sufficient and distribution is ongoing, aiming to clear backlogs and restore normal fuel availability soon.