Fresh fuel scarcity may ground economy as it spreads to Lagos, P’Harcourt

Long queues of motorists have surfaced at many filling stations in Lagos as fuel scarcity hits the commercial capital of Nigeria.

There are fears that the economy of the country may be badly affected as Abuja, the nation’s capital, and its environs have been experiencing the problem for some weeks, after heavy flooding especially in Kogi has prevented trucks from taking fuel to that part of the country.

In Lagos, some filling stations, mostly independent marketers, do not have fuel to sell to motorists and other consumers.

And those with stock have increased their prices, selling between N200 and N250 per litre, depending on location.

The National Operations Controller, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, IPMAN, Mike Osatuyi, attributed the situation to unsteady supply in the past few days.

He told Vanguard that as a result of the unsteady supply, depots prices had risen to between N175 and N180 per litre in Lagos and its environs.

He said, “The situation has culminated in higher prices at the depots. Our members, who find it difficult to get the product, pay between N175 – N185 per litre. Consequently, we are compelled to sell at higher prices in order to cover cost.”

The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) said the artificial scarcity of petrol in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and other states was caused by the ravaging flood in the country.

The Chairman of IPMAN in Rivers State, Mr Joseph Obele, said there was no scarcity of the product but transportation challenges caused by the flood.

He added this had triggered the scarcity of the product as many highways across the country had been overtaken by flood.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has not spoken on the current fuel situation in Lagos.

But it recently urged consumers in Abuja, where fuel scarcity has persisted for weeks, not to panic as it was working to restore stable supply.

It stated, “The current queue situation in some parts of Abuja and its environs is as a result of delays in arrival of fuel trucks. This is happening as a result of heavy flooding that has submerged parts of the highway passing through Lokoja, Kogi State and also an incidence of a failed road section around Badegi-Agaie highway in Niger State.

“Consequently, vehicles, especially fuel tankers, are finding alternative roads to get to their intended destinations”.