Fuel shortages are resurfacing in Lagos, Ogun, Abuja Niger, Nasarawa, and Kogi, as filling stations close in response to fears over an impending nationwide protest. The disruptions have caused significant concern among oil marketers, leading to the cessation of fuel sales at numerous outlets, including those managed by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited along the Kubwa-Zuba expressway.
Reports indicate that similar shutdowns are occurring in parts of Niger and Nasarawa states, as well as in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State. These closures have resulted in lengthy queues at the few stations that continue to operate, such as AYM Shafa in Dei-Dei, Abuja, and the NNPC in Zuba, Niger State.
In Lagos State, the situation has escalated, with many stations closing on Friday. This has ignited fears of an imminent fuel scarcity, as the few stations that remain open are charging as much as ₦800 per litre of petrol.
Oil marketers have cited two main reasons for the closures: a shortage of fuel supply and apprehensions regarding the nationwide protest. In Ogun State, motorists have been dealing with long lines as they scramble to secure petrol amid fears of a looming shortage. In the Magboro and Ibafo areas along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, chaos has erupted as vehicles queue for over 100 meters at Quest Filling Station, where only one of three petrol pumps is operational.
Saheed, a commercial bus driver en route to Ibadan, shared his frustration after waiting for over an hour. “I have been here for more than one hour. I didn’t know I would meet such a long queue. Although one of our drivers mentioned a smaller queue earlier, I didn’t anticipate this. My passengers are already complaining, but there’s nothing I can do. I can’t use my urine to drive them to Ibadan. We just have to wait for our turn,” he lamented.
At NIPCO Filling Station in Magboro, diesel is priced at ₦1,200 per litre, while petrol costs ₦675 per litre. Despite four out of five petrol pumps being functional, the demand far surpasses the supply.
Mohammed Shuaibu, Secretary of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Abuja-Suleja, explained that some stations might lack fuel due to supply issues, but many marketers are also preemptively closing to avoid losses amid protest fears. Shuaibu noted, “Some of them may not have products to dispense due to unavailability. However, many marketers are worried about the proposed protest and are already taking measures to prevent losses. Closing shops is one such measure and this, of course, is going to cause queues in such locations because the number of stations selling petrol would be reduced.”
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has called for calm and urged Nigerians to refrain from joining the proposed protest. In a statement issued by his media aide, Nneamaka Okafor, Lokpobiri emphasized the need for constructive engagement with the government. He urged Nigerians to seek constructive solutions to their frustrations and underscored President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to economic revitalization, calling for unity and patience as the government works to address the nation’s challenges.
