Despite reassurances from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited), the petrol shortage across Nigeria continues unabated, leading to more filling stations closing their doors to motorists.
In Abuja’s Central Area, NNPC Retail stations remain operational, but many stations run by major and independent marketers are shut. Prices at the pump have stayed relatively stable, with NNPC selling at N617 per litre, Cononley at N660 per litre, and NIPCO at N695 per litre. However, some independent marketers are selling petrol at prices ranging from N800 to N940 per litre, while black marketers have hiked their prices to between N1,100 and N1,200 per litre.
NNPC recently attributed the petrol scarcity in Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to “a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels.” The company claimed it is working diligently with stakeholders to resolve the issue and restore normalcy.
Chief Chinedu Ukadike, the Public Relations Officer of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), explained to Vanguard that most tank farms in coastal areas are empty, causing instability in NNPC’s supply. As a result, independent marketers have had to procure their products from third parties.
“Independent marketers don’t import petrol and we have to rely on others. We have been told the problem is with the vessel to vessel transfer. We are willing and ready to distribute petrol across our filling stations all over the country,” Ukadike said. He added that meetings indicate the situation should normalize within the week.
Ukadike also noted that independent marketers are selling petrol above N750 per litre due to the lack of direct supply from NNPC. “Our prices are higher because we source from the third tier. So, if you go to our filling stations we won’t find queues there because our price is higher. But for NNPC and major marketers, you will find queues because they sell at cheaper rates,” he explained.