Fuel scarcity is fast
spreading across the states resulting in long queues at filling stations, even
as the price of the commodity soared to between N160 - N180 per litre, Daily
Trust findings revealed.
Long queues have
surfaced in dozen states that included the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja,
Kano, Lagos, Sokoto, Katsina, Borno, Kwara, Anambra, Delta, Kaduna, with the
Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) selling far above the N145 per litre official
benchmark.
In Kano State, for
instance, the scarcity is already biting hard as President Muhammadu Buhari
begins his two-day working visit today.
Daily Trust observed
that motorists and other petrol users started experiencing fuel scarcity in the
state metropolis since last Friday even though its price stood at N143 per
liter.
Our reporters’
findings at the metropolis showed that many filling stations were under lock
due to lack of fuel, while the few that have the commodity were battling with
customers.
A motorist, Muhammad
Auwal said “it is very unfortunate that Kano is experiencing fuel scarcity at
the time President Muhammadu Buhari is visiting the state.”
The Chairman of the
Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) Kano state
branch, Alhaji Ahmad Bashir Danmalam, said the scarcity was caused by private
refineries that stopped the supply of the community to the state a few days
ago.
“In addition to the
shortage of supply, the private refineries have increased its price from N133
to N143. However, we were able to secure more supplies from Warri and
Port-Harcourt refineries to address the situation. As am speaking to you now,
50 trucks are loading from Kano depot for onward distribution to various
filling stations across the state,” he said.
The situation was
precarious in Kwara State as members of IPMAN threatened to shut down their
filling stations if the federal government did not caution private depot owners
selling petrol above the regulated prices to their members.
The association
lamented that only three trucks are being loaded for them in Ibadan Depot
while Massimi Depot has also reduced the number of products sent to Ilorin.
The chairman of IPMAN
in Kwara, Alhaji Okanlawon Olanrewaju told journalists that “As I speak to you
now, PMS is sold between N142 and N143 at private depots to our members and
when we add N6 to it, that is already more than the approved price by the government.”
Long queues are
already building up in Anambra State as the commodity is now selling N155 per
litre in Awka, the state capital.
In Onitsha, the
commercial city, most of the petrol stations visited had no queues but were
selling at N150, while some sold at N155 per litre.
In Maiduguri
metropolis, the scarcity was so serious in the last three days, with most
filling stations, especially the major marketers not dispensing fuel.
The pump price, which
used to be between N120 and N130 in most filling stations, dramatically rose
yesterday in most of the independent marketers’ stations to between N160and
N180.
Most motorists believe
the commodity is deliberately hoarded by the marketers in anticipation of its
pump price hike next year.
Our correspondents in
Kaduna said there were long queues in major filling stations in the state
capital.
In Katsina, queues
were observed in many filling stations in the metropolis yesterday morning but
by late evening, the queues had disappeared.
The queues resulted from
most fuel stations not dispensing the commodity.
In Funtua, the
situation was worse as virtually all motorists have resorted to the black
market for the commodity.
A car owner, Lawal
Saidu, said he purchased a gallon for N900 on the roadside after going round
most filling stations without finding the product.
In Lagos State, petrol
is still being sold at N145 per litre and N143 per litre in some Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)’s outlets in Lagos metropolis.
Most of the filling
stations belonging to independent marketers shut their gates against customers
while major oil marketers’ outlets that opened for business were besieged with
long queue by anxious motorists.
Virtually all the
filling stations visited yesterday were dispensing fuel from one or two pumps,
shutting down other pumps, thereby creating panic as motorists waited for long
hours before getting the product.
In Abuja, fuel queues
ripped through major fuel stations in Abuja yesterday like other state
capitals, with black marketers selling the product inside jerry cans.
Supply gap from
NNPC – Unions
The Depot and
Petroleum Products Marketers Association (DAPPMA) has accused the Nigerian
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) of not having adequate petrol to meet the
consumption needs of Nigerians.
Speaking with Daily
Trust in Lagos yesterday, DAPPMA executive secretary, Mr Olufemi Adewole, said
there was currently supply gap from NNPC, forcing independent marketers to rush
to private fuel importers for supply.
He also denied the
allegation of DAPPMA members selling above the ex-depot price of N133.28 per
litre. An investigation revealed that all depots in Apapa sell petrol above the
ex-depot price of N133.28k.
Adewole said, “We are
not selling above the official price. We sell what we have. Unfortunately, NNPC
could not meet all the needs. They could no longer get from NNPC’s depots, now
they are accusing us. The same reason NNPC’s depots could not meet their needs
is the same reason why DAPPMA could not meet their needs.”
De- Jones sells at
N139, Fatgbems N140, Folawiyo N138.50, Obat N141, Sahara N140, Stallonire N141,
Swift N141, Chipet N141.50, and NIPCO N138, our reporters said.
The IPMAN, Western
zone had last week urged the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and NNPC
to clamped down private depots selling petrol above the ex-depot price of N
133.28k.
Alhaji Debo Ahmed, the
western zone chairman of IPMAN said that the shutdown of private depots selling
petrol above government approved price became necessary against the backdrop of
the association’s threat to withdraw its services across Lagos State and part
of Ogun State as from December 11.
The major oil
marketers and DAPPMA are currently being owed over $2 billion since 2015. The
money was said to have been borrowed from the banks to finance fuel import.
We have enough fuel in
stock – NNPC
The Group Managing
Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti
Kacalla Baru said yesterday in a statement that the corporation was doing everything
within its reach to address the situation.
“I wish to call on all
Nigerians to stop panic buying. We have said times without number that NNPC has
sufficient products to cater for the needs of all consumers,” Baru said in the
statement.
He said more truckload
of petroleum products have been directed to be dispatched to various parts of
the country to cushion the effects of excessive demand caused by panic
buying.
Senate summons NNPC
boss
The Senate Committee
on Petroleum Downstream has summoned the Group Managing Director of the Nigeria
National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Maikanti Baru, over fears of fuel
scarcity in the country.
Speaking after an
investigative hearing on the matter yesterday, Chairman of the committee,
Senator Kabiru Marafa, said the NNPC boss is to appear before the committee
tomorrow.
He said “Immediately
the issue came up, we contacted NNPC to know the situation of things and we
were told that the rumours were unfounded and that they have written rejoinders
to that effect.
“However, given the
seriousness of the matter, we decided to invite the GMD to come and brief on
the development and to enable Nigerians know the situation of things.
“Unfortunately he
wrote informing us of his inability to honour the invitation.
“We hope he will be
back by Thursday to tell Nigerians the true situation. Even if he cannot make
it he can send people that are in good authority to speak on his behalf.”
Marafa said the
committee will also embark on oversight of filling stations across the country
to check cases of fuel hoarding by petrol dealers.
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