Petrol hits N800 as 240 million-litre vessels arrive

In an effort to combat the growing nationwide petrol shortage, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited started dumping 240 million litres of Premium Motor Spirit, or petrol, on Monday.

Filling stations supplied petrol at an average price of N800 per litre in various places as the NNPCL started to discharge the commodity.

According to information obtained by one of our sources, five vessels brought in 240 million litres of petrol, which were offloaded on Monday into five depots.

This was confirmed in an interview on Monday by Ayo Cardoso, the South-West Regional Coordinator of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

Nigerians in Lagos and other parts of the nation still struggled to find fuel since many filling stations remained closed, despite promises by the NNPC that the logistical problems causing fuel scarcity had been resolved.

The NNPC issued a regulation requiring fuel trucks to service the Federal Capital Territory before any other locations, which might make the situation worse in Lagos and other South-West regions.

Hundreds of loaded trucks were sent to Abuja on Sunday in response to a NNPC mandate, according to sources in the oil business.

While visiting petrol stations around the nation on Monday, our correspondents saw that many of them had increased their pump rates, with a litre of petrol now costing between N650 and more than N1,000.

It was discovered that black marketers took advantage of the fuel stations' increases to make quick cash by offering to sell a litre of petrol for more than N1,200, depending on the buyer's negotiating power and location.

Additionally, it was noted that on Monday, the difficulties brought on by the lack of fuel were worse. As the country got back to work for the new week, the lines at gas stations grew longer.

The strain on parents, instructors, and school owners increased when the fuel shortage coincided with the start of public schooling in several states.

The regional coordinator of NMDPRA stated that the organisation was making every effort to prevent fueling stations from taking advantage of Nigerians.

"The fuel problem is something we are addressing, and it will end very soon. As I speak with you, vessels are opening up. Our focus is on pressuring the supplier of last resort, NNPC, to ensure that they saturate the whole population.

As I speak with you, over 240 million litres of product are being released from five vessels that are currently emptying. We are working continuously.

In the midst of altercations between customers who flocked to the Heyden filling station in Iperu Remo, Ogun State, on Monday, from locations such as Isara, Ode, Ilishan, and others, petrol was sold for N650 per litre.

According to a driver who spoke with one of our correspondents, he had been waiting in queue since five in the morning but was still unable to purchase petrol at midday.

"Look at me, I've been here since five in the morning, and I still couldn't obtain fuel till noon. Isara is where I came from. Other places are devoid of fuel. The governor owns this station; perhaps that explains why it is being sold for N650 per litre. Some people in our vicinity sell petrol for N800 or more', the driver, who chose to remain anonymous, said.
At the Heyden filling stations, a young man wearing a TotalEnergies uniform was seen carrying two jerry cans full of PMS.

The man said, "I came here to buy fuel because we don't have fuel in our station," without disclosing his identity. Even though I was an attendant, I waited in queue for hours. Although the reason for the fuel shortage remains unknown, rumours have it that everyone is holding out for the president to make an announcement regarding fuel price reduction on May 1.

The price difference between Heyden and WB One Oil & Gas in Ogere did not impress the crowd. As early as Monday morning, the gas station charged N900 for a litre of gasoline.

"WB One does not allow me to purchase. A litre is too much at N900. There aren't many people there because of this. Adamu, an okada rider, stated, "Instead of paying N900 for a litre, I would rather join the queue."

Customers wishing to purchase the commodity at N580 per litre were occupying the NNPC retail shop along the Sagamu-Interchange axis.

The As-Sallam filling station near the NNPC had a large queue and sold for N670. The AP and NIPCO stations close to the RCCG Bus Stop remained closed.

Due to the ongoing fuel shortage, commuters in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State, were stranded on Monday on their way to work, school, and other destinations.

People swarmed bus stops, attempting to get into vehicles headed for their workplaces and schools.

Our journalists discovered that the substance was being sold for N1,000 per litre at a few petrol stations in the Rounda and Lafenwa areas.

"The fuel problem has continued to worsen; some filling stations in the Rounda and Lafenwa area are selling a litre for N1,000," said Mr. Banji Alaba, a taxi driver. The queue is insane even though we have a handful that are selling for between N750 and N800. The NNPC filling stations are selling for N580, but as of 4 pm, when I called, my friend, who had been at one of the stations since 9 am, had not yet purchased fuel.

"There is an excessively long queue. There aren't many taxis outside since a lot of drivers are at the petrol stations, and some of them have parked their cars because they lack the stamina to spend hours there. How are our families fed?

"Many of us want to pay our children's school fees now that classes have resumed, but how can we do so if we don't work? It is quite depressing and irritating.

Due to their inability to procure taxis on time, some students were also seen walking home, and those who offered to transport them raised the fee by 70%.

On Monday, petrol was sold for N1,200 per litre at the Total petrol station located at Toll Gate, along the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway in Ogere.

Additionally, the NNPC at Magboro, Ogun State, and the Danco filling station sold for N580 and N610, respectively. Conversely, a number of companies, including TAS, Mobil, Osadol, Heyden, Amuf Oil, Rainoil, and NIPCO, were secured.

Black marketers seized the opportunity to charge outrageous amounts, between N1,300 and N1,800 per litre, for the goods.

While touring major cities, our correspondents came across miscreants threatening to burn down some petrol outlets they thought were stockpiling the product.

Drivers referred to the state of affairs as pitiful and urged the government to act quickly to prevent a potential catastrophe.

A driver at a Mobil gas station in Ikotun, Lagos, identified himself as Mr. Valentine, reportedly stated, "Even though none of the gas stations have started selling, I heard they sold for N1,050 per litre earlier”.
A resident of Egbeda, Lagos, going by Peace Adeola, claimed that as of Sunday, commercial vehicle operators began to increase their charges.

The resident claims that commuting from Ikotun to Egbeda cost N600 on Sunday as opposed to N300 the day before.

The bus conductors and drivers were grumbling, claiming they had to pay N900 for the fuel. From Egbeda, we hiked home," Adeola said.

Speaking on Monday, Ignatius Uzonna, a different Egbeda resident, informed one of our journalists that the lack of private commercial buses has resulted in a high passenger count on government-owned BRT buses.

According to our correspondents, a gallon of fuel in Apapa was being sold for N900 on the black market, while an outlet affiliated to Saddeh at Egbe Bus Stop along Ikotun-Ejigbo road, sold for N1,000/litre.
Petrol was likewise sold on Monday for N900 a litre at the God's Decision location on Governor's Road in Ikotun, Lagos.

Residents of Gombe State were upset by the constant rise in petrol prices, which were selling for N900 per litre in a few operating filling stations and N1,400 on the illicit market throughout the state.

"We are suffering and it's unfortunate we buy fuel at N1,400 because we can't stay in long queues at the filling station," Mohammed, an okada rider, said.

One of our journalists in Makurdi, the capital of Benue State, reported that the few gas stations that reopened on Monday offered gasoline for between N750 and N850 per litre. However, there weren't any lengthy lines at the gas stations.

Similar developments occurred in Gboko and Otukpo, the two major urban centres in the state, where the cost of transportation had gone up.
Due to the lack of petrol in Ondo State, commercial drivers had to raise their charges by 50%, which had an impact on business operations throughout the state. It was noted that some who were unable to pay the charges were walking a considerable distance to reach their different destinations.

While some gas outlets charged N750 per litre, others only charged N650.

According to information obtained, as of Monday, the petrol stations in Akwa Ibom State were dispensing fuel at a rate of between N700 and N740 per litre.

Although there was no shortage of the commodity, one of our correspondents who was keeping an eye on the NNPC and Fonnex filling stations in Uyo reported that the stations raised their pricing.

"There is no fuel scarcity anywhere in the state as you can see, but we are still selling at N700," state