News
Fuel Scarcity: Marketers blame supply hitch as queues resurface in Lagos, Ogun
Fuel Scarcity: Marketers blame supply hitch as queues resurface in Lagos, Ogun
Petroleum marketers say the non-availability of Premium Motor Spirit in filling stations located in Lagos and Ogun states is as a result of shortage in supply.
Similarly, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited confirmed that there were no products in its Apapa depots.
The long queues resurfaced in filling stations across the two states on Friday, creating fear of impending fuel scarcity.
Our correspondents, who went round some parts of Lagos and Ogun states, reported that the queues of desperate motorists in some of the filling stations affected the free flow of traffic.
At the Oando filling station in Alapere, Lagos, commuters were held in traffic as motorists struggled to buy fuel. The station stopped dispensing fuel later in the day.
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There were long queues at the Conoil filling station, while the TotalEnergies station in the same area was not dispensing fuel to customers.
It was observed that many stations did not dispense fuel and this increased the pressure on the few ones where the product was available.
The NNPC station at Fadeyi did not sell petrol as of noon on Friday, while the NIPCO station recorded a long queue of vehicles waiting to get Premium Motor Spirit.
There were also long queues of motorists at the AP filling station in Onipanu.
The Mobil filling stations at Palmgrove, Alausa and Mile 2 areas of the state did not open for business.
The Enyo filling station at Ojodu junction had long queues when one of our correspondents got there.
It was the same scenario at Eterna filling station at Oworonshoki, Northwest in Oju-Elegba, TotalEnergies and MRS in Surulere.
The NNPC, Mobil, TAS, NIPCO, Enyo, As-Salam and other filling stations along the Mowe-Ibafo route in Ogun State did not sell petrol too.
Similarly, the Capital and Enyo filling stations at Berger did not sell PMS as at the time of filing this report.
The Rain Oil and NNPC stations in Ibafo, Asese and Mowe areas had long queues of motorists, while other stations along the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway were shut.
The situation affected the number of commercial vehicles on the roads.
At Mile 2, some young men engaged in the sale of the product in jerrycans at N800 per litre.
Commercial motorcyclists, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH, said they had been buying from the black marketers since Wednesday.
A customer on the Ikotun Idimu Road in Lagos, who gave his name as Mr Ejiogbu, said, “I just noticed there are long queues in filling stations around here and I don’t know why it is only the NNPC station that is dispensing fuel in the area.
“I started noticing the scarcity and queues everywhere two days ago and I don’t know why.”
It was observed that the scarcity has started affecting transport fares.
A trader, Mrs Ada Herbert, said, “Ikotun to Cele Express used to be between N400 and N500, but today, drivers pegged it at N600; I don’t know if it was as a result of the fuel scarcity.”
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At the Mobil filling station at First Gate along the Lagos-Badagry Expressway, there was a short queue of motorists waiting to buy fuel in jerrycans.
One of the fuel attendants said the station managed to get fuel after three days of no supply.
“They just came to supply fuel for us now. We didn’t have fuel for over three days. I don’t know why they didn’t bring it earlier. What matters is that we have fuel to sell now,” the attendant, who declined to give his name, said.
Motorists also queued up to buy fuel at the Mobil station at Alakija, where PMS was sold fuel for N605 per litre.
The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, had said on Monday that there was a little hiccup in the distribution of the product and expressed optimism that normalcy would be restored after the Easter break.
Fashola stated, “Yes, I think there was a little infraction in supply. The Easter holidays from Friday to Monday also added to the situation. I think from Wednesday it will ease off.
“There was little problem with supply even before the holidays. There was a little hiccup in supply, and the holiday added to it. I am sure will start getting better after the holidays.”
However, the situation seems to be getting worse four days after the Easter break.
NNPC, marketers speak
The spokesperson for the NNPCL, Olufemi Soneye, in a message on Friday, confirmed that there were queues at NNPCL stations, saying there were no products at the company’s Apapa depots.
According to him, the NNPCL has carried out a review and there is no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
Soneye stated, “There were no products at our Apapa depots. We have carried out a review and there was no sign of scarcity in Lagos.
“It is only the NNPC Retail stations that have queues due to our price differential.”
However, the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria differed with the NNPCL as it confirmed queues at its filling stations.
The Executive Secretary of MEMAN, Clement Isong, said there was low stock over the Easter weekend for some of the members, adding that this resulted from truck out to supply stations without replenishment at its depots.
Isong said this led to outages in some retail outlets during the past week.
However, he stated that the depots were currently receiving PMS supplies from the NNPC Trading and would continue to do so throughout the weekend.
Isong said, “Thank you for reaching out to us regarding the recent concerns about fuel scarcity. We understand the importance of addressing these issues promptly and transparently to provide clarity to the public.
Fuel Scarcity: Marketers blame supply hitch as queues resurface in Lagos, Ogun
-PUNCH
Community
Monarch Dies Shortly After Being Rescued From Kwara Kidnappers
The Onigbesi of Igbesi Land in Kwara State, Oba Moses Oyinloye Iwedunmoye I, has died days after he was rescued from kidnappers.
The monarch passed away in the early hours of Saturday at a hospital, according to his son, Prince Olasunkanmi, who said his father had been receiving treatment following a brief illness.
“Yes, the news is true. He died after a brief illness following his release. We took him to the hospital, hoping he would survive, but he died there very early this morning,” Olasunkanmi said.
Oba Iwedunmoye was abducted on August 22 when armed men invaded Igbesi community in Isin Local Government Area.
He regained his freedom five days later after security forces launched an operation around the Elerin/Ijomu-Oro area, where three kidnapped victims were found.
The rescue followed a report received at the Oro Police Station from a vigilante member, who alerted authorities after one of his colleagues was shot while operating in the bush.
A combined team of police officers, soldiers and vigilantes was subsequently deployed to the area.
Police said the suspected kidnappers engaged the team in a gun battle after spotting the advancing operatives. One alleged kidnapper was killed during the exchange, while others escaped into the surrounding area.
The security team continued the search and eventually located the three victims, who were evacuated for medical treatment.
News of the monarch’s death was announced by Bisi Fakayode, National President of Omo Ibile Igbomina, who mourned the traditional ruler and prayed for the repose of his soul.
The circumstances surrounding the monarch’s illness and death have not been publicly disclosed beyond his family’s account that he fell ill after his release.
News
Police Arrest Woman Over Alleged Drug Trafficking in Delta
Police Arrest Woman Over Alleged Drug Trafficking in Delta
A 40-year-old woman, Joy Anthony, has been arrested by the Delta State Police Command over alleged involvement in the illegal drug trade.
Police said operatives attached to the Special Anti-Kidnapping Unit carried out the arrest in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area, following intelligence received about suspected drug-related activities.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Bright Edafe, officers subsequently obtained and executed a search warrant at Anthony’s residence in Agbor-Obi.
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The search reportedly resulted in the recovery of several suspected illicit substances, including tramadol, codeine, swinol, Canadian loud and weeds suspected to be Indian hemp.
The suspect and the recovered exhibits have been taken into police custody as investigators continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged offence.
Edafe said Anthony would be prosecuted after the investigation is completed.
Police have not disclosed the exact quantities of the substances recovered.
Police Arrest Woman Over Alleged Drug Trafficking in Delta
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