Reappearance Of Fuel Shortages In Abuja And Other States Sparks Protest Fears

Reappearance Of Fuel Shortages In Abuja And Other States Sparks Protest Fears

Oil marketers are raising concerns about potential disruptions, leading to a halt in fuel sales at various retail outlets, including those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway…….. CONTINUE READING

According to Punch, similar closures have been observed in parts of Niger and Nasarawa states, as well as in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. This has caused long queues at the few stations still dispensing fuel, such as AYM Shafa in Dei-Dei, Abuja, and the NNPC station in Zuba, Niger State.

In Lagos State, many stations closed on Friday, heightening fears of an impending scarcity. The few open stations were charging up to ₦800 per litre of petrol.

Marketers attribute the closures to both fuel supply shortages and concerns over a nationwide protest. In Ogun State, motorists faced long lines as they scrambled for petrol amid fears of a shortage.

At the Magboro and Ibafo areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, chaotic scenes unfolded with vehicles queuing over 100 meters at Quest Filling Station, where only one of three petrol pumps was operational. Saheed, a commercial bus driver, expressed frustration after waiting over an hour, noting that his passengers were complaining about the delay.

At the NIPCO Filling Station in Magboro, diesel was priced at ₦1,200 per litre and petrol at ₦675 per litre. Despite four out of five petrol pumps being functional, demand greatly outstripped supply.

Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Abuja-Suleja, explained that some stations might be out of fuel due to supply issues, while others are preemptively closing to avoid losses amid protest fears.

Shuaibu said, “Some stations might not have products due to supply issues, but many are closing to prevent losses related to the anticipated protest. This reduces the number of stations selling petrol, leading to queues.”

He added, “I am in Lokoja now, and many stations are not dispensing petrol. This situation is concerning as we recently recovered from fuel queues in major cities due to reduced supply from NNPC.”

In response, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has urged citizens to remain calm and avoid participating in the proposed protest. In a statement from his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, Lokpobiri emphasized the importance of constructive engagement with the government and urged patience as President Bola Tinubu’s administration works on economic revitalization.

Lokpobiri warned against groups that might exploit the protest for malicious purposes and stressed the need for dialogue to avoid destabilizing the country. He reassured citizens of the President’s commitment to addressing their concerns and encouraged support for government initiatives to achieve national progress.