Petrol scarcity: Fuel crisis worsens as depots divert PMS to Abuja

Nigerians in Lagos and other parts of the country were still having trouble getting Premium Motor Spirit, even after the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited claimed that the logistical problems causing fuel scarcity had been resolved. This was because many filling stations remained under lock and key throughout the weekend.

Because the NNPCL mandated that fuel trucks service the Federal Capital Territory before any other location, the situation could get worse in Lagos and other South-West regions like Ogun, Oyo, Osun, and others.

Because of this, most trucks that have been leaving the Lagos depots since Friday have been travelling to Abuja.

Our correspondents were informed by NNPCL officials and marketers that depots were required to service filling stations in Abuja before servicing any other region of the country. They were concerned that lines in the South-West might persist for the following three days.

Hundreds of trucks loaded on Saturday were sent to Abuja in accordance with the NNPCL directive, according to sources in the oil sector.

Speaking under oath due to their lack of authorization to address the media on the subject, the officials revealed that the NNPCL was limiting the product, allocating 5,000 metric tonnes of fuel to depots instead of 10,000MT.

There are instructions stating that the product should be rationed due to its scarcity. Now, depots receive roughly 220 trucks, which is half of what they typically receive. This is a result of the unpredictable supply. There wouldn't be any lines if the NNPCL had an adequate supply to meet everyone's needs, according to one of the officials.

An operator claims that the national energy company's current inability to import enough has resulted in the unpredictable supply.

"The NNPCL does not have enough fuel imported, which is the reason for the unpredictable supply. There are occasionally issues with the NNPCL's supply, regardless of money or anything else. As of Saturday, for instance, at the NNPCL Jetty in Apapa, there was only one tanker at ASPM which can take about 40,000 metric tonnes; the three other reception points had no PMS vessel.
"We start experiencing these problems whenever there are disruptions in importation at the NNPCL. They'll work very hard to control it, but eventually it will burst open. They claimed last week that it was the outcome of logistics, but the problem is with importation errors, not logistics.

"Abuja is now the destination of all of our trucks. Every dealer and marketer was instructed to prioritise serving Abuja. Until order is restored, products will go to Abuja, as all regulatory bodies are aware. For the next three to four days, you are welcome to leave your truck at the depot; they will merely ask you to wait. You won't be aware of what's going on. The operator said, "You will see other trucks going; they are loading ahead of you because they don't know where they are."

He said, "Because the Abuja loading will continue until Monday, the South West will probably see longer lines in the next two to three days. Abuja is being prioritised by the government because they want the capital to have adequate fuel supply.
Speaking, Hammed Fashola, the National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, expressed optimism that, based on the NNPCL's statements, the lines in Lagos and Ogun would thin out between Monday and Wednesday.

However, Fashola said that because of the distance to Lagos, the lines in Abuja might get a little longer.

According to the information provided by the NNPCL, there was a logistics issue, which can cause supply chain disruption. Before it reaches the depot tanks, there may be a delay in the transfer of ships from the mother ship to the daughter ship. It will undoubtedly take a few days before we can fix that. By Tuesday or Wednesday, I believe there will be more products available for lifting by marketers. It might take time before it can ease off in Abuja, considering the distance to Lagos and the bad roads; Lagos might be calm this new week,” Fashola assured.

NNPC faults claim

Speaking about reports that the NNPC was limiting PMS supply and giving Abuja priority over other regions, leading to shortages in the South-West, NNPC spokesperson Olufemi Soneye refuted the allegations completely.

Wholly untrue. It is inaccurate information. Does the dealer track each truck to find out where it ends up? It typically takes twice as long for things to get back to normal if there are fuel distribution interruptions that last two to three days. Things ought to get better soon. It's crucial to remember that our products are available.

They ought to be aware of this if they are knowledgeable about the sector. Deliveries of goods must be made to the states, Soneye said.

Beginning last week, the shortage has persisted despite the NNPCL's assurances on Thursday that the issues had been addressed.
Residents of Ogun State have been complaining about the scarcity of fuel since last week, according to our correspondent. From Abeokuta to the east and west of the Gateway State, fuel has grown in scarcity.

On Sunday, many petrol stations in Abeokuta did not provide fuel. The very few fuel dispensers charged N670, N700, and more for a litre of petrol.

Cars lined up for hours at the NNPCL, where fuel was sold for N580 per litre. There, they fought with one another while waiting in line. Black marketers profited greatly from this, peddling their wares to eager customers for N700 to N900.

Residents of border towns such as Idiroko reported that they now purchase fuel at the rate of N1,200 from black marketers, saying the current scarcity exacerbated the effect of the ban on fuel supply in their areas.
Ajegunle civil servant Mr. Femi Abel stated, "The 20km ban on fuel supply in border communities is really affecting us at the Idiroko border."

In Iperu, Ikenne Local Government Area, Ogun State, as of Sunday, only the Heyden filling station sold fuel, and there was a long queue of customers.

Several petrol stations were locked, as our correspondent saw while travelling the Mowe-Ibafo section of the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway.

There were long lines at the NNPCL station near the Sagamu Interchange. The nearby Danco and Conoil filling stations were closed as well. There were lines at the RCCG Bus Stop's Petrocam and Habeeb stations as well.

Additionally, it was noted that petrol stations such as AP and NIPCO at Mowe, NNPC, Mobil, Enyo, and Amuf at Ibafo were all not selling fuel as of 4 p.m. on Sunday, while there were long queues at the NNPCl outlet along Magboro, all in Ogun State.
ConOil, Muheed, MAPOLY, and other filling stations in the vicinity were closed in Abeokuta.

Black marketers sold for N1,000 per litre, Mobil in Itoku sold for N700, and Fowobi at Onikolobo was selling for N680.

According to drivers who spoke with one of our correspondents, there is no legislation or regulation controlling the product's sale.

They claimed that petrol station owners were setting their prices arbitrarily, which had a real impact on other household expenses.

Idris Ajenifuja, a taxi driver, told one of our reporters that he purchased fuel in Saapade for N800 per litre just before travelling to Abeokuta.

Taxi driver Mr. Wale Iyanda bemoaned to our correspondent on Sunday that fuel was being sold in Abeokuta for between N700 and N850 per litre.

Iyanda stated, "Some of the filling stations that sold fuel on Saturday did not open on Sunday, so the situation has continued to worsen."

"The NNPCL filling stations were selling for N580/litre, but there was a very long queue. The few filling stations that opened sold a litre for between N700 and N850.

The fact that no one can pinpoint the precise cause of this scarcity makes this worrying. It is unfortunate that we have to endure more suffering in this nation.

According to commercial motorcycle rider Mr. Rilwan Soyele, petrol was sold in Sagamu for between N830 and N900.

"Many filling stations are not selling fuel in Sagamu," Soyele stated. Here, we purchase fuel for at least N750. Some are even charging N900 for a litre.

The lack of acknowledgement that this is the root cause of the scarcity is quite disheartening and frustrating. It seems like the government is keeping quiet while the oil marketers simply want to punish us.

In an interview with one of our correspondents from a community in Ipokia Local Government, Mr. Musibau Fawole revealed that the price of a litre of fuel in border communities ranged from N1000 to N1200.

Transport costs have increased as a result of the development, particularly for taxi drivers and commercial motorcycle riders.

Lines grew longer

Our reporters noticed that lines had extended to numerous gas stations in Lagos. There was a queue at the Coker Bus Stop petrol station on the Apapa-Oshodi Motorway as cars and people filling jerrycans had trouble getting fuel.

The Total filling station a few metres ahead had fewer cars and people, but the situation at the MRS Fuel station at Ojota along Ikorodu Road was similar.

On Sunday afternoon, there were longer lines at the Mobil Station before the Otedola Bridge segment of the Lagos-Ibadan Motorway. With all the yellow jerry cans and cars trying to get in from both ends, it was almost a chaotic scene.

However, a few trav