Fuel crisis deepens: Northern states hit hardest by petrol shortages

By Ezekiel David

The Federal Government has issued a stern warning to oil marketers hoarding petrol amidst a worsening fuel crisis impacting Abuja, Niger, Nasarawa, Kaduna, and other states.

With many filling stations shutting down due to dwindling supplies, particularly in northern regions, the government is taking action against those exacerbating the situation.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has threatened to revoke the licenses of any stations found guilty of hoarding fuel or selling to black marketers.

During an inspection tour in Abuja, Ogbugo Ukoha, NMDPRA’s Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, emphasised the seriousness of the warning. “You need to take this (warning) very seriously. If you need security reinforcements, speak to your management,” Ukoha told the manager of one station.

The NMDPRA is urging retailers to cease supplying black marketers who sell petrol in jerrycans, citing significant safety risks associated with this practice. The agency has declared a crackdown on the illegal sale of petroleum products, taking to social media platform X to emphasise their commitment.

“NMDPRA embarks on a war against the illegal sale of petroleum products, especially PMS in jerrycans. Filling stations are advised to desist from servicing illegal peddlers; failure to do so would result in the suspension of retail licenses,” the agency stated.

In July, NNPC Ltd. spokesperson Olufemi Soneye attributed the fuel scarcity in Abuja and Lagos to a disruption in the offloading process of several vessels.

“The NNPC Ltd wishes to state that the tightness in fuel supply and distribution witnessed in some parts of Lagos and the FCT is a result of a hitch in the discharge operations of a couple of vessels,” Soneye explained. He assured the public that NNPC was collaborating with stakeholders to normalise operations. The company later cited adverse weather conditions as a contributing factor to the crisis.

“Adherence to these regulations is mandatory as any deviation could pose a severe danger to the trucks, filling stations, and human lives.

Similarly, the development was compounded by consequential flooding of truck routes, which has constrained the movement of PMS from the coastal corridors to the Federal Capital, Abuja,” Soneye added, noting that loading operations had resumed. However, despite these assurances, the fuel crisis continues to grip numerous northern states.

(Source: Channels)