Fuel scarcity: Major Marketers blame thunderstorm

Travellers and motorists have been groaning following fuel scarcity across various filling stations in the nation’s capital, Abuja.

This is just as the Major Energy Marketers’ Association of Nigeria (MEMAN) blamed the situation on supply chain disruption even as the situation is a little bit calm in Lagos except pockets of long queues at some major filling stations.

Daily Trust findings showed that filing stations of both the independent and major oil marketers within Abuja city and some area councils of the FCT have remained closed without fuel.

A visit by our reporter to some of the filling stations especially where fuel is being dispensed showed that there was a long queue of vehicles and motorcycles waiting to buy fuel.

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At AA Rano filling station, Wuse zone 2, there was a long queue of vehicles waiting to refill their tanks, even as some motorists carried gallons to buy the fuel.

Also at Gwagwalada area council, one of the satellite towns in the FCT, our reporter observed that some filling stations remained closed, except Doma filling station, which is located along Secretariat road.

However, some motorists who spoke with our reporter, expressed their frustration over the fuel scarcity which they said posed serious hardship to them.

Our reporter further observed that the fuel scarcity and increase in transport fare has forced many residents, especially civil servants to resort to trekking within the city center of Abuja while some trekked from homes to their working places.

Mr. Ayuba Solomon, a commercial driver, who spoke with our reporter, said the fuel scarcity has forced him to park his car at home.

“In fact, since yesterday being Thursday, I couldn’t bring out my car to pick passengers because many filing stations within the area I reside have no fuel,” he said.

“And even where you see fuel, the liter is high as I can’t afford to buy a liter for N900 per liter, which is almost black market,” he said.

Another motorist, Godwin Emmanuel, who is also a commercial driver plying Abuja- Enugu route, expressed his frustration over the fuel scarcity in Abuja.

He said the resurfacing of fuel scarcity in Abuja, has not augured well for both motorists and travellers, saying the fuel scarcity has compelled him to increase transport fare by 85 percent.

“How do you expect me to fuel at N870 or N900 per liter and expect me not to increase transport fare, if we must tell each other the truth,” he said.

A director of one of the petrol stations, who preferred anonymity, said the resurfacing of fuel scarcity in Abuja, was due to non supply of fuel by NNPCL.

He said being an independent oil marketer, he has always depended on buying from NNPCL, which he said could not get fuel for over a week.

“It is the NNPCL that supplies us fuel but for the past one week, we could not get fuel and the government has failed to tell Nigerians what is responsible for the fuel scarcity,” he said.

He added “And the most annoying thing again is that despite the government secretly paying fuel subsidies, yet the government has failed to supply fuel,” he said.

One of our correspondents also observed long queues at TotalEnergies, Wuse, Zone 3, TotalEnergies by Audit House, Conoil and TotalEnergies, opposite the NNPC Ltd. Towers and all NNPC Ltd. retail outlets.

Along Kubwa expressway, the NNPC Ltd. retail outlets opposite Salbas, Shema, AA Rano and Salbas fuel stations as well as Evergreen station inside Kubwa had long queues.

Black marketers were also seen hawking petrol in jerry cans.

Motorists who spoke with our correspondent, however, lamented the untold hardship the development has caused them.

Musa Aliyu, a commercial driver, said he had to increase his fare for transportation because of the difficulties of getting fuel.

“Getting fuel now is so difficult. Most filling stations are not selling even when you see the ones that are selling, long queues are there,” he said.

Slight queues in Lagos

In Lagos, our correspondent observed slight queues at major filling stations on Lagos Mainland and Island where fuel is sold at the official rate of between N568 and N610.

The long queues were observed at Mobil Filling Station at Bonny Camp; MRS along Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria Island; among others.

IPMAN confirms scarcity

President of the Independent Petroleum Marketers’ Association (IPMAN), Alhaji Abubakar Migandi said he has been inundated with reports of scarcity especially in Abuja, saying he was yet to be properly briefed on the cause of the crisis.

MEMAN blames supply chain disruption

Executive Secretary of Major Energy Marketers’ Association (MEMAN), Clement Isong in a chat with our correspondent blamed the scarcity on supply chain disruption.

He said the recent rainfall across the country, especially in Lagos, made it difficult for trucks to lift products, saying there was a thunderstorm at the depots.

He said, “The supply chain is slower when there is a thunderstorm. 24-hour supply chain disruption means that the stations are dry. During the rainy season, the trucks drive more slowly, they also get stuck when the roads are flooded.”

He however assured that the queues would disappear in a few days’ time, adding, “There is product in Lagos, the product is coming and the product is moving.”