Petrol scarcity and long queues are resurfacing at filling stations in Lagos, Ogun, and some South-Western areas, with depots in Lagos running low on supply. Though Abuja and the North haven’t experienced queues, depots in Lagos are being hit by pipeline vandalism, impacting supply to the South-West.
Numerous stations, especially along expressways, witnessed queues, affecting traffic. Notably, a North-West station had the longest line, with others like Eterna and TotalEnergies seeing shorter queues. Some stations like Conoil, Enyo, and Oando in Lagos had no fuel left to dispense, while others in Ogun State closed temporarily.
Pipeline vandalism has halted product loading at depots for weeks, worsening supply issues. Depots owners also struggle to import due to rising foreign exchange rates. Many stations are closing due to high depot prices, leading to demand surpassing supply.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) previously relied on private depots for distribution due to pipeline vandalism, and recently resumed pipeline operations. However, recent vandalism has disrupted their efforts. Depots in the North and South of Nigeria are affected.
Despite the Dangote Refinery’s anticipated impact on imports, fuel scarcity and higher prices prevail. The situation calls for refinery rehabilitation and forex stabilization to mitigate the problem’s spread across regions.