The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to fuel marketers, threatening to revoke their operating licenses if they are found hoarding Premium Motor Spirit (PMS).
This comes as long queues for petrol continued to plague cities across the country, including Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, and Kaduna, causing widespread frustration among motorists.
On Friday, numerous fuel stations in Abuja were either shut down due to a lack of supply or selling petrol at inflated prices, such as N849/litre at some stations in the Kado area. Matthew, a taxi driver, voiced his frustration, saying, “I’ve been experiencing a lot of challenges due to the scarcity. It’s been a real headache… We’re struggling in our own country, and it’s frustrating.”
Reacting to the growing crisis, Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), warned that stations engaging in hoarding or selling to black marketers in jerrycans risk losing their licenses. “You need to take this (warning) very seriously,” Ukoha emphasized during an inspection in Abuja.
The NMDPRA also declared on its X handle that it had “embarked on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products,” and filling stations must desist from servicing illegal peddlers or face suspension.
Despite these warnings, the scarcity persists, with petrol prices skyrocketing in various states. In Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, prices ranged between N1,000 and N1,050 per litre on Friday, while stations in Katsina and Gombe reported similar increases.
The National Vice President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Hammed Fashola, acknowledged the ongoing supply issues, stating, “No hope on fuel scarcity yet… There is a shortage in supply. We are still managing whatever we have.”
The situation in Kaduna, Sokoto, Bauchi, and other cities remains dire, with long queues and limited availability continuing to cause hardship for motorists.
Despite efforts to address the crisis, the problem shows no signs of abating, leaving many Nigerians frustrated and struggling to cope with the rising cost of fuel.
Credit: The Punch
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