Long queues for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, persisted on Friday across Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and other states as the Federal Government warned oil marketers against hoarding fuel, threatening to revoke their operating licenses.
In Abuja’s Federal Capital Territory, numerous fuel stations had long lines of vehicles, while many remained closed due to supply shortages.
In the Kado area of Abuja Municipal Area Council, some stations, such as AA Rano, sold petrol at N849 per litre, while others stayed shut.
The petrol shortage has caused significant frustration among motorists, who have had to wait for hours in line to obtain fuel.
A taxi driver named Matthew, who was at an NNPC station, voiced his concerns: “The scarcity has been challenging. When you finally get money, instead of enjoying it, you spend it with sadness. As a taxi driver, it’s tough. One day is spent getting fuel, and the next on actual work. We are struggling to survive, and it’s frustrating. I urge the government to find a solution to bring back prosperity.”
In response to the widespread fuel queues, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) warned that filling stations hoarding fuel or selling to black marketeers in jerrycans would face license revocation.
During an inspection in Abuja, NMDPRA Executive Director Ogbugo Ukoha cautioned petrol stations against worsening the fuel crisis. In a video shared by the regulator, Ukoha warned a TotalEnergies station to take the warning seriously and, if necessary, request security reinforcements.
Ukoha also emphasized the safety risks of selling petrol to black marketeers, urging stations to discontinue this practice.
Additionally, NMDPRA announced via its X handle that it had declared war on the illegal sale of petroleum products. The agency warned that filling stations servicing illegal sellers would face retail license suspension.
Despite these efforts, the NNPC continued to struggle with fuel imports into Nigeria, leading depot owners to sell petrol at higher prices. Marketers, eager to buy, are willing to pay the increased costs, knowing that Nigerians in desperate need of fuel will still purchase it.
On July 27, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye attributed the fuel scarcity in Abuja and Lagos to a hitch in vessel discharge operations. He assured the public that efforts were ongoing to resolve the situation, but the scarcity has persisted.
In July, Soneye also cited bad weather as a cause of the fuel crisis, explaining that thunderstorms had disrupted the transfer of PMS between vessels, affecting supply logistics.
A Reuters report revealed that Nigeria’s debt to PMS suppliers had exceeded $6 billion, with NNPC failing to pay for some January imports. Despite these claims, the NNPC denied the report, with Soneye challenging the allegations.
By Friday, petrol shortages continued in major cities, especially in the North. NNPC’s inability to supply enough fuel since the previous month left many depots out of stock, awaiting vessels to deliver the product.
Depot operators disclosed that some depots were selling petrol at higher rates, with marketers willing to buy at any price and sell at a markup.
In Ebonyi State’s capital, Abakaliki, petrol prices hovered between N1000 and N1,050 per litre on Friday. In Gombe State, some stations with fewer queues sold petrol at N950 per litre.
In Katsina, prices rose from N830 to between N900 and N1000 per litre by Friday. In Jos, Plateau State, prices ranged from N900 to N950 per litre, while NNPC outlets continued to sell at N670 per litre.
Yobe State’s fuel crisis worsened as stations in Damaturu and surrounding areas remained closed, driving prices to between N900 and N1000 per litre.
In Kaduna, the fuel shortage continued to cause hardship, with long queues and unavailable fuel plaguing the city. The NNPC mega station in Barnawa, Southern Kaduna, remained closed, leaving many residents stranded.
In Sokoto State, the price of PMS rose to N1000 per litre, frustrating residents. The situation in Bauchi also deteriorated as many stations closed on Friday.
, commonly known as petrol, persisted on Friday across Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and other states as the Federal Government warned oil marketers against hoarding fuel, threatening to revoke their operating licenses.){kind=link}