Lagos is experiencing severe fuel shortages as many filling stations have run out of stock, leading to long queues and widespread frustration among motorists and commuters. Stations along Ikorodu Road, Bank Anthony, and in Somolu Metropolis have been particularly affected, with some stations forced to close due to chaotic scenes.
Illegal fuel hawkers have emerged as a result, taking advantage of the scarcity. These hawkers are seen along major roads such as Ikorodu Road, Maryland, Gbagada, and Ogba, selling fuel at inflated prices.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPCL) has been implicated in the shortage, with allegations that the company has been unable to pay importers since March, leading to supply issues. Some stations are reported to be selling fuel at prices ranging from N618 to N800 per litre, and in the black market, prices have soared to over N1,200 per litre.
Motorists are facing significant increases in transport costs, with fares rising from N200 to N300 for trips between Bariga and Onipan. The scarcity has led to persistent traffic jams around fuel stations.
NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, denied reports of the company owing $6.8 billion to international oil traders. Soneye stated that NNPC Ltd. has been meeting its financial obligations and remitting taxes regularly. He emphasized that the quality and quantity of imported petroleum products are regulated by the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), not NNPC Ltd.