Long queues for Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), commonly known as petrol, have resurfaced at filling stations across Lagos and Ogun states, as well as in some other locations in South-Western Nigeria. This development comes amid reports that depots in Lagos are gradually running out of petrol.
While no queues were reported in Abuja and other Northern states, depots in Lagos are reportedly facing dwindling reserves of petrol, leading to concerns over supply availability.
Numerous fuel stations, particularly those on the Oshodi-Ojodu Berger Expressway and sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, have witnessed queues extending onto the expressways, causing traffic congestion on service lanes.
A North-West filling station saw an extensive queue, selling petrol at N568 per litre, while other stations such as Eterna, NNPCL, TotalEnergies, and Mobil experienced shorter lines, offering petrol at N568 to N570 per litre.
In contrast, some major stations like Conoil, Enyo, and Oando in Lagos had no petrol to dispense. Additionally, a TotalEnergies branch in Berger was locked, while outlets such as Worldoil, Fatgbems, and Quest in Ogun State temporarily shut down.
Akin Akinrinade, Chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria, Satellite Depot, revealed that the depot had not loaded any products in the past three weeks. He attributed the shortage to pipeline vandalism, cautioning that this issue would have a domino effect on Lagos and the South-West region.
Akinrinade stated, “We’ve been dealing with pipeline vandalism since July. The Satellite depot has been unable to load products for three weeks, and this disruption has wider repercussions for Lagos and the entire South-West. Even the NNPC Retail depot is operating on a limited basis.”
He highlighted the importance of maintaining pipeline integrity and resolving the issue of vandalism to ensure a consistent supply of petroleum products.
Sources also indicated that many filling stations had scaled back operations due to the high cost of products at the depots. The challenging economic environment, coupled with rising foreign exchange rates, has affected the ability of depot owners and oil marketers to import products.
As a result, some stations have temporarily closed, while others have curtailed their operations due to financial constraints.
Notably, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL) had aimed to reduce its fuel importation efforts with the anticipation of the Dangote Refinery’s production. However, pipeline vandalism and other challenges have impeded these efforts, leading to a situation where NNPCL remains a major importer.
With demand outstripping supply and uncertainties regarding importation, petrol queues have reappeared in parts of South-West Nigeria, prompting concerns among motorists and citizens alike. The situation emphasizes the need for comprehensive efforts to address supply chain challenges and stabilize petroleum product availability to avoid disruptions and price fluctuations.
