The ongoing petrol shortages in Abuja and neighboring states reached a critical point yesterday as more fuel stations ran dry, exacerbating the struggles of commuters and motorists trying to navigate their daily routines.
At the few filling stations still dispensing fuel, chaos ensued, with black market vendors taking advantage of the situation to hike prices to N1,500 per litre, a significant increase from the previous day’s rate of N1,000 per litre.
Observations across the city revealed that only a handful of stations operated by major marketers were able to cater to motorists in both the central area and suburbs, while stations operated by independent marketers remained closed.
In response to the escalating crisis, NNPC Limited issued reassurances to consumers, stating that the challenges leading to fuel shortages nationwide had been addressed.
According to Mr. Olufemi Soneye, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd, the recent tightness in petrol supply is primarily due to logistical issues, which have since been resolved. Soneye emphasized that there have been no changes to fuel prices and urged Nigerians to refrain from panic buying, assuring the public of sufficient product availability.
Meanwhile, Chief Chinedu Ukadike, Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), attributed the queues at fuel stations to logistical challenges faced by independent marketers.
Ukadike revealed that the inability to order new products over the past two weeks was due to technical issues with the NNPC Retail portal. However, he expressed optimism that the situation would be rectified following an upcoming meeting with NNPC Retail.
Despite the closures of IPMAN-operated stations, Ukadike assured consumers that once product deliveries are received, queues would dissipate, as IPMAN stations would complement those operated by major marketers.
He also appealed to NNPC to explore alternative ordering processes during periods of portal downtime to prevent disruptions in fuel supply and alleviate the inconvenience experienced by motorists and commuters.
