Nigeria’s fuel scarcity has now stretched into its sixth week, with little sign of improvement. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) blames the ongoing shortage on “distribution challenges,” causing widespread frustration among drivers and commuters across the country.
This is the third fuel crisis in 2024, beginning in early July. Initially, NNPC pointed to logistical issues, particularly with the transfer of petrol from larger “mother vessels” to smaller “daughter vessels.” Severe weather, including storms, disrupted these operations, and the company noted that loading fuel onto trucks was also delayed by these conditions.
On Sunday, NNPC released a short statement expressing regret for the ongoing shortage. The company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, acknowledged the tight supply in parts of Lagos and Abuja. He urged Nigerians not to panic-buy, assuring that NNPC is working hard to resolve the distribution issues.
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Despite these assurances, the situation remains difficult. In Abuja, long lines persist at the few petrol stations that are open. Outside the city, things are even worse, with some independent marketers raising prices to as high as N950 per litre, up from N720 per litre before the shortage.
Chinedu Ukadike, spokesperson for the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), explained that the scarcity might be linked to delays in the expected supply from the Dangote Refinery. Many marketers, who rely on NNPC for their stock, haven’t received enough fuel recently. Ukadike suggested that some suppliers are hesitant to bring in more fuel, fearing price drops once the Dangote Refinery begins supplying the market.
As the scarcity continues, Nigerians face rising prices and long waits at fuel stations, with no clear end in sight to the crisis.
