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Fuel scarcity has severely impacted the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and five other states, including Nasarawa, Niger, Gombe, Sokoto, and Anambra, leading to the closure of many filling stations and causing heavy queues at the few outlets dispensing petrol.
The shortage of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, has left thousands of commuters stranded and caused a significant increase in transport fares.
In the affected states, commuters faced difficulties accessing transportation due to the scarcity of PMS needed by transporters to operate their vehicles.
As a result, transport fares skyrocketed, with the limited number of transporters with access to petrol raising their rates.
The scarcity was attributed to a supply shortage of PMS to the nation’s capital and neighbouring states, prompting oil marketers to schedule a meeting with the management of the retail subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited to address the issue.
Meanwhile, motorists besieged the few filling stations selling petrol, causing traffic congestion on roads leading to the outlets.
Several filling stations, including those operated by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), were closed in Zuba, Niger State, and other areas due to the unavailability of petrol.
Oil marketers acknowledged the supply shortage and indicated that investigations were underway to determine the cause.
They expressed optimism that the issue would be addressed during the meeting with NNPC officials.
The situation in Anambra State was particularly dire, with thousands of commuters left stranded at motor parks due to the unavailability of vehicles caused by the closure of petrol stations.
This led to a surge in transportation fares, with some routes experiencing fare hikes of over 200%.
Residents in Lagos and Ogun states also faced challenges as filling stations experienced long queues, and petrol prices varied widely.
As the situation unfolds, the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) is set to meet with the NNPC to find a solution to the supply shortage and address the concerns of the affected states.
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