The ongoing scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, which has plagued the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for over a month, intensified over the weekend, spreading across the country. The scarcity led to unprecedented fuel queues and prices soaring beyond N1,000 per litre in some locations.
The acute shortage has severely disrupted commercial and social activities in major cities, including Abuja, Lagos, Kaduna, Kano, and Port Harcourt, among others. Many filling stations have shut down due to the undersupply of PMS, compounding the crisis.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) attributed the shortages to “distribution” challenges but did not specify the exact cause of the spike, which has persisted in Abuja and its environs for weeks.
In parts of Abuja, petrol prices on the black market skyrocketed, with a 10-litre container selling for as much as N12,000. Private filling stations in the capital sold petrol between N700 and N1,050 per litre, depending on the location, while NNPC mega stations maintained a price of N617 per litre but were overwhelmed by long queues stretching for kilometres.
The scarcity has also led to a significant increase in transport fares. In Abuja, fares have doubled on many routes as drivers struggle to obtain fuel at exorbitant prices.
In Lagos, the petrol scarcity reached alarming levels, with most major filling stations closed and long queues at the few that were open. Similar scenes were reported across the country. In Rivers State, for instance, prices ranged between N870 and N900 per litre, while NNPC stations sold at N591 per litre, attracting long queues.
Kaduna State also experienced sharp price hikes, with petrol selling between N760 and N950 per litre. In Kano, prices exceeded N800 per litre, with some stations charging as much as N1,000 per litre. The scarcity has led to an increase in transport fares, further burdening residents.
NNPCL blamed the shortage on “evacuation challenges,” particularly in Lagos, but promised that the situation would be resolved by midweek. The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Femi Soneye, urged motorists to avoid panic buying, assuring that efforts were underway to restore normalcy.
Amid the crisis, NNPCL also refuted claims that it owed $6.8 billion to international oil traders and had not remitted revenues to the Federation Account since January. The company clarified that it operates on a credit basis with its international partners and regularly meets its financial obligations.
