By Daniel Edu
• Fuel loading halted by marketers blaming pipeline vandalism
• Supply hindered as import challenges impact filling stations
Long queues have reappeared at petrol stations in Lagos, Ogun states, and a few other South-Western locations due to the scarcity of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol.
Although there haven’t been reports of queues in Abuja and other Northern states, depots in Lagos are facing a gradual depletion of petrol stocks.
Numerous stations, particularly those along the Oshodi-Ojodu Berger Expressway and sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, have witnessed queues extending onto the roadways, causing traffic disruptions.
North-West filling station experienced the longest queue, selling petrol at N568 per litre. Other stations like Eterna – N568/litre, NNPCL – N568/litre, TotalEnergies – N570/litre, and Mobil – N570/litre had shorter lines.
Some stations, including Conoil, Enyo, and Oando at Berger in Lagos, were unable to dispense any products.
While some TotalEnergies stations were operational, a branch in the Berger area remained closed.
Several stations like Worldoil, Fatgbems, and Quest in Ogun State shut down their operations.
Akin Akinrinade, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Satellite Depot, attributed the issue to pipeline vandalism that had been raised as a concern since July. He mentioned that the Satellite depot hadn’t loaded products for the past three weeks, and even the NNPCL Retail depot was dispatching products in limited quantities.
The NNPCL Retail operates 21 depots across the country, with 12 in the South and 9 in the North. The company had abandoned some depots due to pipeline vandalism and was relying on private depots for distribution.
Efforts were being made by NNPCL to repair pipelines, including the Satellite depot in Lagos that had resumed operations but was vandalized again in July.
Depot owners were also facing challenges in importing products due to rising foreign exchange rates, which led to many filling stations shutting down or reducing operations.
Sources suggested that the economy’s difficulties and import challenges had caused a shortage of products, leaving NNPCL as the primary importer.
A spokesperson for NNPCL indicated earlier that the company planned to reduce fuel imports once the Dangote Refinery began producing refined products in late July or early August. NNPCL holds a 20% stake in the Dangote Refinery.
