Lagos, Nigeria – Fuel queues for Premium Motor Spirit, commonly known as petrol, have grown longer in Nigeria as oil marketers report a supply breach by the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL). The NNPCL, which is the sole importer of petrol into the country, has been unable to meet the increasing demand from local dealers.
The shortage of petrol stems from various factors, including the NNPCL’s inability to supply sufficient products and the cessation of imports by other marketers due to foreign exchange constraints and other concerns.
The NNPCL had claimed to have a 30-day sufficiency of Premium Motor Spirit, though they acknowledged the presence of fuel queues across the country.
In response to the NNPCL’s assurances, oil marketers pointed to the continued queues at filling stations in Lagos, Abuja, Nasarawa, Niger, and other states, highlighting the absence of the promised supply.
According to Billy Gillis-Harry, President of the Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria, “There is a supply breach. The NNPCL said they had 1.9 million litres, but we have not seen the supply. I’m in Lagos right now, and the queues for petrol are widespread.”
Gillis-Harry emphasized the need for government intervention to secure foreign exchange and create an energy bank to fund importing refined petroleum products. Marketers are considering partnerships with foreign refineries to access competitive prices, which could make products more affordable for consumers.
Chinedu Ukadike, National Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, pointed out that NNPCL had not imported products recently due to reduced demand and challenges related to forex rates.
The fuel scarcity situation in Nigeria remains critical, with many filling stations operated by independent marketers being unable to dispense fuel due to product shortages. Long queues continue to plague those outlets operated by major dealers, causing widespread frustration among motorists. The situation is likely to persist until adequate measures are taken to address the supply challenges.